Box Score - McNeese State 7, South Alabama 1.pdf
LAKE CHARLES, La. – McNeese State recorded eight extra base hits – six doubles and two home runs – and snapped the University of South Alabama softball team's eight-game win streak Tuesday afternoon with a 7-1 win at Cowgirl Diamond.
South Alabama (13-2) will compete at the Diamond 9 Citrus Classic II at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla. USA will take on No. 12/13 James Madison (2:30 p.m.) and Boston College (4:45 p.m.) on Friday, Bryant (11:30 a.m.) and Kansas (1:45 p.m.) on Saturday and Purdue (9 a.m.) on Sunday.
Haleigh Lowe finished 2-for-3 at the plate for the Jaguars, while Kaleigh Todd, Haleigh Lane and Amanda Minahan also recorded a hit. Todd reached base all four of her at-bats (error, walk, infield single and fielder's choice), while Lane also drove in USA's lone run.
Jag starter Destin Vicknair suffered her first loss of the season and dropped to 7-1. Vicknair allowed seven runs – all earned – on five hits, two walks and two hit batters.
The top of the lineup did all the damage for McNeese State (8-9) in the win as the first four hitters were a combined 8-for-12 in addition to three walks and scored all seven Cowgirl runs. Morgan Catron was 3-for-3 with two runs scored and four runs driven in, while Tori Janitor was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. Hailey Drew and Erika Piancastelli also had a hit apiece, while Drew scored twice and Piancastelli scored once.
Alexandra Flores went the distance and improved to 3-2 on the spring. In seven innings of work, Flores scattered five Jaguar hits and allowed just the one unearned run, while striking out four.
After not scoring until the eighth inning in the first meeting, both teams wasted little time getting onto the scoreboard in the first.
South Alabama was able to push across an unearned run. Todd reached on an error by McNeese second baseman Jamaiya Miller and stole second to start the game. With two outs in the inning, Lowe beat out an infield single to keep the inning alive and Lane then lined a two-out single to center to bring in Todd from third and give the Jags the 1-0 advantage.
USA threatened to do more damage in the opening frame, loading the bases, but Flores was able to get Savanna Mayo to hit into a fielder's choice at third and get out of the inning.
In the bottom half of the opening inning McNeese made the Jags pay for the missed opportunity to add more runs. The Cowgirls answered back and quickly retook the lead with a four-run first. Drew (hit by pitch) and Piancastelli (walk) both reached to start the inning and then came home on Catron's three-run home run to center – her fifth of the season. With the bases loaded and one away, the Cowgirls brought their fourth run of the inning home as Taylor Schmidt was hit by a pitch from Vicknair to plate Yanitor and put McNeese up, 4-1. With the bases still loaded, Vicknair was able to get pinch hitter Taylor Edwards to line into a double play to Mayo at third to end the inning.
McNeese added to its lead in the second inning with three more runs on three hits. Drew doubled to begin the inning and then two batters later came home on Catron's RBI double to left center. Yanitor followed the base hit with the Cowgirl's second home run of the day, this one off the scoreboard in left to make it 7-1.
USA had a late scoring opportunity in the top of the sixth, placing two on with one out, but Flores got a foul out and a strikeout looking to end the frame.
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).
Join the Bullpen Club, the softball specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund. Members have access to purchase parking passes and receive Jaguar Softball gear. All donations to the Bullpen Club go directly to support the South Alabama softball program. For more information on how you can join visit: http://jaguarathleticfund.com/sports/2013/3/13/Bull%20Pen%20Club.aspx?id=27
—USA—
