Box Score - Southern Mississippi 2, South Alabama 1.pdf
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The University of South Alabama softball team loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the sixth inning, but was only able to get one run, eventually falling 2-1 to Southern Mississippi Wednesday night at the Southern Miss Softball Complex.
"I thought [Destin] Vicknair pitched well enough to win the game tonight," South Alabama head coach Becky Clark said. "I thought she competed; she made the one mistake on the 0-2 pitch [to Lauren Holifield], but we've got to be able to back her up on defense and then when we have our opportunities offensively. We have to be able to take advantage of them.
"Southern Miss' pitcher was mixing up speeds on us and we knew we were going to get that and were prepared for it; we didn't execute the way we needed to. At the end, we started to execute and got to her, but we just couldn't get the big hit to break it open. Right now, that's the fix for us. Going into this weekend's series against Louisiana-Lafayette, we've got to take advantage of our opportunities when we get them."
South Alabama (19-9) will return home to host Sun Belt rival No. 17/20 Louisiana-Lafayette in a three-game series in Mobile. USA and ULL will open up with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 25 (1 / 3 p.m.) and then close out the series on Sunday, March 26 with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. at Jaguar Field.
On Saturday, the Jaguars will be wearing camo jerseys versus the Ragin' Cajuns. The game-worn camo jerseys will be auctioned online beginning when gates open on Saturday at noon - thru Friday, March 31 at noon.
MC Nichols, Kristian Foster, Amanda Minahan, Haleigh Lane and Megan Harris each recorded a hit for South in the loss. Jag starter Destin Vicknair (9-4) pitched well, allowing two runs – one earned – on six hits, while striking out seven in her six innings of work.
Samantha Papp was 2-for-3 at the plate with a double, while Lauren Hill and Heather Hill also had a hit and drove in a run for the Golden Eagles (14-14).
USM starting pitcher Kim Crowson improved to 6-4 on the year and went the distances. In her seven innings of work, Crowson scattered five hits and allowed just one run, while inducing 14 ground-ball outs.
Southern Miss struck first in the home half of the opening frame with a pair of runs on three hits and one costly Jaguar error. Samantha Reynolds tripled down the line in right to lead things off for the Golden Eagles and then came home two batters later when Holifield doubled on a 0-2 pitch from Vicknair that landed in the gap in left center and rolled all the way to the wall. Tori Dew then reached on a fielding error by Kaleigh Todd at second and after a line out, Hill beat out an infield single to score Holifield.
The first-inning unearned run scored by the Golden Eagles in the first would prove to be the difference later on in the game.
After retiring the first 10 batters she faced, Crowson, South finally was able to break through with a pair of one-out infield singles in the top of the fourth. Crowson thought battled back and got Minahan to ground into a 6-5 fielder's choice and Haleigh Lowe to fly out to center to end the inning and keep USA off the scoreboard.
The Jaguars had a chance to do some major damage in the top of the sixth as they loaded the bases with nobody out on a pinch-hit single by Harris, a full-count walk to Todd and a USM error, allowing Nichols to reach. Crowson was able t get Foster to hit a grounder to Chase Elson at short, who threw out Harris at home. Minahan then put USA on the board as she delivered a RBI-single to left, scoring Todd.
One batter later, Crowson was helped out by her defense as Elson made key out as she snagged a soft liner behind third of the bat of Lowe for the second out in the inning. Crowson was then able to help herself out as she got Savanna Mayo swinging to get out of the bases-loaded jam.
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: jaguarathleticfund.com/bullpenclub
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