MOBILE, Ala. – Before a sell-out crowd of 1,152 in its season opener, the University of South Alabama had its chances against No. 10/11 Alabama, but missed opportunities proved costly Thursday night as the Jaguars dropped a 1-0 decision in their season opener at Jaguar Field.

South Alabama (0-1) got the leadoff batter aboard in the third, fourth and fifth innings, eventually placing two runners on base in each of those instances – two of those times with one out – but the Jags were unable to come up with the timely hit.

Alabama's (1-0) Alexis Osorio earned the complete-game victory scattering three hits and striking out eight.

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Date: 2/8
Place: Jaguar Field (Mobile, Ala.)
Final Score: Alabama 1, South Alabama 0
Records: UA (1-0), USA (0-1)

SCORING PLAYS
-3rd Inn. — UA, 1-0 — Sydney Booker scores on a RBI ground out to first by Gabby Callaway

KEY MOMENT OF THE GAME
-With one out and the bases loaded in the top of the third, Callaway's RBI ground out to first plated Booker for the game's lone run.

STANDOUT PERFORMERS
-MC Nichols, Brittani Reid and Lyric Cabral each recorded a hit a piece for the Jaguars' three hits on the night.
-South Alabama's Alexis Reid recorded 2.1 innings of scoreless relief allowing just one hit and striking out one.
-Jag starter Devin Brown (0-1) allowed two hits and one run to go along with six strike outs.
-Osorio went the distance scattering three hits, striking out eight and walking three.
-Elissa Brown, Bailey Hemphill and Kaylee Tow had Alabama's three hits in the win. Hemphill also drew three walks, two of which were intentional.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
-Both clubs struggled leaving runners on base as South Alabama left seven runners stranded and Alabama stranded 10.
-The Crimson Tide was 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position, while the Jags were 1-of-6 at the plate in those situations.
-The two teams were a combined 2-for-15 in two-out hitting.
-USA was successful in both its sacrifice attempts with Kaleigh Todd and Nichols each laying down sacrifice bunts.

NOTES
-Tonight's attendance of 1,152 is the fourth largest crowd to ever watch a game at Jaguar Field and the second largest for a regular-season game.
-The top three regular-season crowds have come in games against the Crimson Tide – 1,463 (2/8/09), 1,152 (2/8/18) and 1,088 (2/5/15).
-With her third inning walk, Todd moved into a tie with former Jag Kristen Hayes (2007-09) for eighth at South on the career list in the category as she now has 62 for her career.
-After giving up a run in the top of the third, the Jaguars had a scoring chance in the bottom half of the inning with a pair of one-out walks, but Osorio was able to get a strikeout and a fly out to left to end the inning.
-South Alabama had another scoring opportunity in the fourth placing runners at the corners with two outs, but Osorio ended the threat with another fly out to left.
-Cabral recorded the first hit for the Jags in the bottom of the fourth when the ball landed on the infield in between three Alabama fielders.
-Alabama threatened to add to its lead with a pair of two-out runners, but A. Reid entered the game and was able to get Hemphill to fly out to center to escape the jam.
-Alabama picks up its 14th-straight win in the all-time series and improves to 3-0 in meetings in Mobile.
-South Alabama is now 7-5 in season openers and 8-4 in its home openers.

THEY SAID IT
Head coach Becky Clark
-On her thoughts on the game: "I didn't think it was a good outing.  I thought we underachieved. I thought we had a ton of opportunities in the game and we didn't step up and get the job done.  We should have won that game on our home field."
-On the missed opportunities: "I felt that we gave away some at-bats tonight.  There were some bright spots in there for us where we didn't give up the big inning.  We were able to work out of a couple of things and had some things happen in our favor, but you are on your home field and when you're given opportunities against a pitcher like Osorio, you have to be aggressive and make the most of your opportunities.  We're a better team than what we showed tonight."
-On South Alabama's pitching tonight: "I thought both of our pitchers did a good job tonight and kept Alabama off-balance.  For the most part, they were able to pound the strike zone with the exception of the nine-hole hitter that we walked."

UP NEXT
- South Alabama (0-1) will now open up play at the Friends of Jaclyn Invitational this weekend against Providence on Sat., Feb. 10 at 10 a.m. (CT) at Soldier's Creek Park and then take on Illinois later in the day at 3 p.m. (CT).  USA will also face Butler and North Florida on Sunday.

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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