Box Score - No. 17/18 LSU 6, South Alabama 0.pdf

BATON ROUGE, La. – The University of South Alabama softball team had a couple of scoring opportunities over the first two innings and No. 17/18 LSU used a pair of three-run innings to pick up a 6-0 win over the Jaguars Tuesday night at Tiger Park.

"I don't think the score reflected how the game was played tonight," South Alabama head coach Becky Clark said.  "I thought we played a good game.  We had some places in there where we need to have a little bit better at-bats, but for the most part I thought we had some really good at-bats against a quality pitcher.  I thought [Destin] Vicknair did a good job on the mound and gave us a chance.  

"LSU got a big hit here and there that put up some crooked numbers and we didn't get that hit.  This past weekend against ULM, we were able to get that hit and make some magic for ourselves; that didn't happen today.  We faced a very good pitcher on the mound.  

"We need to take this game, take a step forward with it and let it make us a better team.  Anytime you face a team like LSU and face a pitcher like we did tonight, you let that make you a better hitter, a better pitcher and a better defense.  Overall, I thought we played a pretty clean game, it just didn't come out in our favor."

South Alabama (28-18, 10-12 SBC) will return home for its final three-game Sun Belt Conference series of the year against Georgia Southern.  USA and Ga. Southern will open up with a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and then close out the series on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m. at Jaguar Field.  The Jaguars will honor their two seniors – Amanda Minahan and Destin Vicknair – prior to Sunday's first pitch.

South was led at the plate by Megan Harris who had a pair of hits in her three at-bats – her eighth multi-hit game of the season.  Kaleigh Todd, MC Nichols and Kristian Foster had the three other hits for the Jaguars in the loss.

Destin Vicknair took the loss, falling to 12-10 on the year.  Vicknair allowed six runs on seven hits in her 5.2 innings of work.  She walked four and struck out three.

LSU improved to 35-14 on the spring with the win and was led at the plate by Amanda Doyle who was 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored.  Allie Walljasper also had a hit and drove in two, while Sahvanna Jaquish reached base in all four of her plate appearances – three walks and a hit – while scoring a run and driving in one.

Carley Hoover (10-6) went the distance scattering five hits, walking one and striking out six.  The complete-game effort was her 11th of the season and the fourth shutout.

The Jaguars had a couple of scoring opportunities early, but were unable to capitalize, leaving five runners on in the first two innings.

South loaded the bases in the top of the first after one-out hits to Nichols and Foster and a walk to Minahan, but Hoover got Jag first baseman Katelyn Gruich to ground into a fielder's choice, getting Nichols out at home.  Hoover then ended the threat and the inning with a strikeout looking to Savanna Mayo.

USA tried to do some two-out damage in its next at-bat as Harris and Todd reached on back-to-back singles, but Hoover got out of the jam with another strikeout.

LSU broke the scoreless tie with a three-run third.  Jaquish worked the count full and earned a walk – her second of the game – to start the inning.  Constance Quinn then singled through the left side of the infield to put runners at first and second.  Doyle, who had singled her first time up, then lifted a three-run shot to left – her fourth of the season to put the Tigers up 3-0.

The Tigers added three more runs in the home half of the sixth extending their lead to 6-0.  The first two runs of the inning came on Walljasper's two-run home run – her second of the spring – scoring Nicky Dawson who began the inning with a pinch-hit triple to gap in right-center.  LSU then placed runners at the corners with two outs after a walk to Claire Weinberger and an infield single to Landry.  Jaquish – who had walked her previous three at-bats – then recorded her first hit of the night as she singled through the left side of the infield to plate Weinberger.

After struggling early on, Hoover settled down and was outstanding over the final five innings as she sat retired 16 of the final 17 Jaguar batters that she faced.

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

—USA—