Box Score - South Alabama 11, Jackson State 1 (5 inn.).pdf
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MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama softball team won its ninth game of the season Sunday afternoon as the Jaguars defeated Jackson State, 11-1 in five-innings the final game of the Mardi Gras Invitational held at Jaguar Field.  

South (9-1) will next travel to Tallahassee, Fla., to take on third-ranked Florida State on Tuesday.  First pitch versus the Seminoles is set for 5 p.m. (CT) at JoAnne Graf Field.

The 9-1 start for the Jaguars is tied for the program's best record after the first 10 games of the season.  USA also began the 2014 campaign with a 14-1 mark and the 2013 season with a 13-1 record.

For their play over the weekend, South's Devin Brown, Kristian Foster, MC Nichols and Haleigh Lowe were all named to the Mardi Gras Invitational all-tournament squad.

Kaleigh Todd, Haleigh Lane and Lowe each were 2-for-2 at the plate in the win.  Todd scored three runs – which tied a career best – and also walked once, while Lane had two runs and two RBI.  Lowe provided the big bat as she tied a career high with four runs driven in, matching her total set at Georgia Southern (4/16) last season.  Foster reached base all three of her at-bats and crossed the plate on each occasion.

"Our team came out today ready to play and ready to show everyone what we were made of," Lowe said following the win.  "We wanted to end the weekend on a good note.  I came out ready to hit and to win.  One of the strengths of our team is our team chemistry and how we play together.  We all have the spirit that we want to go out and win.

The 11 runs scored by USA on the afternoon were a season-high and the first double-figure offensive output since scoring 14 in a 14-0 win at Georgia Southern last season.

"I think what's going well is our bats," Lowe added.  "With our hitting, we've been locked in and ready to go.  We treat every team like they're the best team in the nation. Our defense is also going really well and is pretty solid.

Three Jags saw time in the circle as Destin Vicknair made the start and improved to 5-0 on the season, while freshmen pitchers Bailey Murphy and Chandler Sparkman also saw time.  Vicknair allowed two hits and struck out two in her two innings of work.

Jackson State dropped its ninth-straight game of the season, falling to 1-9 on the year.  Kaitlyn Elzie was 1-for-2 with a RBI for the Tigers.

JSU's pitching surrendered 11 runs on seven hits, but only three of the Jags' runs were earned as the Tigers also committed five errors.

USA did all of its damage in the first three innings, putting up four runs each in the first two innings and then three runs in the third.

After Vicknair retired the side in order in the top half of the first, the Jaguars broke out for four runs on three hits and a JSU error in the bottom half of the inning.  Todd got the scoring going when the junior second baseman walked to lead things off.  She then stole second and was sacrifice around to third by Nichols.  Symone Williams' first pitch to Foster then went to the backstop, plating Todd.  

Foster (double) and Amanda Minahan (single) then reached to put a pair on for Lane, who singled back up the middle scoring the two Jaguar base runners and increasing South's advantage to 3-0.  USA then added another run two batters later as Lowe – who scored all the way from second on an errant throw by Tiger first baseman Gaylon Johnson attempting to turn a double play at second, making it 4-0 Jaguars.

USA doubled its lead in the second with four runs on three hits and three JSU errors.  South's first run came with two outs when JSU center fielder Cheyenne Aplon dropped a fly ball off the bat of Foster, allowing Todd to score from second.  Foster scored the next batter when Minahan reached on an error by the shortstop.  Two batters later, Lowe plated two more as she singled to left bringing in Lane and Minahan to extend South's advantage out to 8-0.

Jackson State got an unearned run of its own in the next half inning when Elzie reached on an infield single that scored Aplon – who had reached on an error to begin the inning – from third.

The Jaguars closed out their scoring with a three-run third.  Aly Smith (walk) and Todd (bunt single) both reached to begin the frame and then were sacrificed over by Megan Harris.  USA got its first run of the inning on the next batter when Foster's ball in center was misplayed, allowing Smith to come home.  Later in the inning, it was Lowe delivering a another two-run single – this one back up the middle – that scored Todd and Foster and put South Alabama up by double digits.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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