Box Score - South Alabama 5, Purdue 2.pdf
KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Kaleigh Todd was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with a pair of triples and runs scored, along with an RBI as the University of South Alabama softball team closed out play at Diamond 9 Citrus II Classic held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex with a 5-2 victory over Purdue Sunday morning.
With her two triples, Todd becomes the first Jaguar player in the program's 10-plus seasons to accomplish the feat in a game.
South Alabama (17-3) will next begin Sun Belt Conference play with a three-game series at Georgia State, March 11-12 at the Robert E. Heck Softball Complex in Atlanta, Ga.
"I thought this was a great way to finish the tournament and I thought we competed the entire time," South Alabama head coach Becky Clark said. "I thought we got a great performance from [Destin] Vicknair in the circle today. She did a really good job keeping Purdue off-balanced; she got a lot of ground balls and the defense played well behind her.
"I also liked our approach at the plate today. I thought for the most part when Purdue started changing things up on us, our kids adjusted well and as a result, we were able to keep putting runs on the board. I was happy to see that we didn't score runs early and then sit on it; that we kept our foot on the gas. We had great at-bats all throughout that game. Overall I'm pleased with the weekend. We were able to get done what we wanted to get done coming down here. Hopefully, we head north a better team and a better ball club."
Four other Jags also recorded a hit in the win – MC Nichols, Haleigh Lowe, Abby Krzywiecki and Aly Smith – while Nichols, Lowe, Amanda Minahan and Bailey Murphy each drove in a run.
Destin Vicknair improved to 9-1 on the spring. In her 6.1 innings of work, Vicknair allowed two runs – one earned – on five hits, while striking out five and walking three. Devin Brown entered in the top of the seventh and registered her third save of the year, striking out both Purdue (3-16) batters that she faced.
Maya Hughes was 2-for-3 with a run scored to lead the Boilermakers at the plate. Maddie Damon (2-4) took the loss as she surrendered five runs – three of which were earned – on seven hits and a pair of walks. Damon also struck out four Jags in the loss.
Like in its first game of the day on Saturday, South Alabama wasted little time getting on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first, scoring a pair of runs. Todd led off the inning with a triple to the gap in left center and then came home on Nichols' bunt single. After being down in the count 0-2, Kristian Foster battled back and earned a one-out walk. The Jag shortstop and Nichols then moved into scoring position on Lowe's sacrifice bunt. USA would make it 2-0 one batter latter as Minahan brought in Nichols with a RBI ground out.
South added another run in its next at-bat as Todd tripled for her second time – this one to the gap in right center – scoring Aly Smith all the way from second. Smith had reached throwing error and moved to second on a ground out by Murphy.
In the top of the third, Purdue was able to scratch across an unearned run on a pair of hits and two South Alabama errors. With one away, Kristen Hoppman reached on a fielder's choice and then moved into scoring position on Hughes' bunt single. One batter later PU cut the deficit to 3-1 when Mallory Baker singled and Foster's errant throw sailed into the Boilermaker dugout.
The Jaguars got the run back two innings later and pushed its lead back out to 4-1 when Murphy's sacrifice fly to center scored Krzywiecki – who had singled with one out and then moved to third on Smith's double to left.
South added another run in the fifth when Lowe bounced a two-out single back up the middle to score Todd from second. Todd had led off the frame with an infield single – her third base hit of the game – and advanced to second when PU first baseman Tayler Wullenweber was unable to handle the throw.
Hughes led off the top of the sixth with a lined single through the left side of the infield and then advanced to second on Baker's ground out. The Purdue center fielder then stole third and came around to score won Wullenweber's RBI ground out to second, trimming South's lead to 5-2..
Purdue threatened in the top of the seventh, placing a pair of runners aboard with one out. Kaitlyn Moody singled to right center and PU pinch hitter Alexa Binckes then walked to put runners at first and second. Brown entered in relief of Vicknair and squelched the threat as she struck out Katie Johnson and Hoppman swinging to end the game.
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—
