MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama softball team swept both of its games during the opening day of the Jaguar Challenge hosted by Springhill Suites at Jaguar Field. The Jags opened up the tournament with a come-from-behind 8-5 victory over Lipscomb in its first game of the day, and closed out the night with an 8-0 run-rule victory over North Dakota.
UP NEXT
- South Alabama (3-3) will continue play at the Jaguar Challenge on Saturday with a pair of games. The Jags will face Tulsa at 11:15 a.m. and then take on Mercer at 3:45 p.m.
Date: 2/15
Place: Jaguar Field (Mobile, Ala.)
Tournament: Jaguar Challenge presented by Springhill Suites
Game 1 – South Alabama vs. Lipscomb
Final Score: South Alabama 8, Lipscomb 5
Records: South Alabama (2-3), Lipscomb (4-3)
Box Score (PDF)
KEY MOMENT OF THE GAME
- Trailing by one (3-2), South Alabama batted around erupted for six runs in the bottom of the fourth to take the lead for good.
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
- Kennedy Cronan led the Jaguars at the plate as the freshman was a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI, which included her second home run of the season. Brittani Reid scored twice and walked three times, while Kamdyn Kvistad, Katelyn Gruich and Dayla Gulledge each drove in a run as well.
- Samantha Yarbrough entered in relief and pitched a perfect three innings in the circle, striking out seven of the nine batters she faced.
- Lipscomb was paced offensively by Peyton Ward, Jordan Fortel and Hannah DeVault who each went 2-for-4 at the plate. DeVault also drove in three, while Fortel had two RBI and scored twice. Ward also added two runs for the Bisons.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- South Alabama (9) and Lipscomb (5) left a combined 14 runners on base.
- Yarbrough struck out the first three Lipscomb batters that she faced. All seven of her strike outs were swinging.
GAME FACTS
- South Alabama jumped out in front with a run in the bottom of the first. Brittani Reid, who had walked on four straight to start the inning, stole second to move into scoring position with two outs. On the very next pitch, Cronan drove a 2-2 offering off of Mandy Jordan off the wall in center to bring around B. Reid and put the Jags up, 1-0.
- With runners at first and second and two away the next half inning, South threatened to add to its lead, but Amy Vetula made a diving grab in left to end the frame.
- Lipscomb answered back in the top of the third with three unearned runs to take a 3-1 lead. Graysen Gladden reached on a two-out fielding error and Lipscomb then strung together three straight singles. Fortel drove in the first run with a RBI single through the right side of the infield, scoring Gladden. DeVault then plated two more runs for the Bisons as she singled to right center plating Ward and Fortel.
- The Jaguars got a run back in the bottom half of the inning as Cronan delivered a two-out homer to left – her second of the season – to cut the deficit in half South threatened to do more two-out damage in the inning as Katelyn Gruich lined a single back up the middle and pinch hitter Abby Krzywiecki reached on a walk, but Mandy Jordan (1-2) got Savanna Mayo swinging to end the inning and keep it at a 3-2 game.
- Alexis Reid (1-2) worked out of a jam in the top of the fourth as she struck out Gladden swinging on a check swing to end the frame with runners at second and third.
- The big inning for the Jaguars came in the bottom of the fourth which was ignited by excellent patience at the plate. Each of the first three batters worked the count full and reached base after being down early in the at bat. Amanda Flynn led off the inning with a pinch-hit single to center after getting behind 0-2. Megan Harris, B. Reid and Gulledge then walked to load the bases and bring in the first run of the inning. Kvistad added a RBI single through the left side one batter later to put the Jags out in front 4-3.
- As she had done throughout the contest, Cronan came through as she singled to center plating another run. Gruich and Krzywiecki then capped off the scoring with RBI sacrifice flies, while another run came during Gruich's sac fly when the throw into third got away, allowing pinch runner Caroline "Pepper" Nichols to score, increasing the Jag advantage to 8-3.
- Lipscomb started off its half of the fifth with three consecutive extra-base hits as Ward and Fortel both tripled to the gap in right center with the latter platting the former. DeVault then lined a double to right center to make it 8-5. Yarbrough entered the game in relief of A. Reid at that point and with a runner in scoring position, the Jag freshman struck out the next three LU batters, all swinging.
- From there on, Yarbrough was lights out as she retired the next six batters to close out the game.
NOTES
- The meeting versus Lipscomb was the seventh in the all-time series. South Alabama is now 7-0 in those previous meetings.
- Friday's meeting was the first in the series since the 2016 season and the first in Mobile since the 2015 season.
- The game versus the Bisons was also the 17th versus (16-1) a current Atlantic Sun Coast Conference member.
- The seven games against Lipscomb are the most versus an ASUN opponent.
- With her RBI double in her first plate appearance and her solo home run in the third and her RBI single in the fourth, Cronan has now delivered an RBI in four-straight at bats as she homered in her last at bat against Western Kentucky on Feb. 10.
- With her leadoff walk in the bottom half of the first, B. Reid extended her reached-base safely streak to four games.
- With her 4-for-4 performance at the plate, Cronan has now recorded a hit in each of her last five plate appearances.
- The Jaguars drew a season-high eight walks versus Lipscomb, and the most since drawing 10 free passes versus Illinois last season during the opening weekend of action.
Game 2 – South Alabama vs. North Dakota
Final Score: South Alabama 8, North Dakota 0 (6 inn.)
Records: South Alabama (3-3), North Dakota (1-6)
Box Score (PDF)
KEY MOMENT OF THE GAME
- North Dakota had a chance to get on the board first in the top of the second, but South Alabama capitalized on the missed opportunity in the bottom half of the inning scoring 2-0 runs.
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
- South Alabama received two-hit performances from Cronan, Gruich and Krzywiecki in the victory, while each also scored a run.
- Gruich drove in a game high three, while Krzywiecki also plated a pair.
- Kvistad had a hit and scored twice, while MC Nichols, Jordan Calderon and Gulledge also scored once.
- Jamie Finnical (1-0) went the distance recording four strikeouts in her debut, while scattering four hits and three walks.
- Kayleen Schneider led the Fighting Hawks with a 2-for-3 performance.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Five of South Alabama's eight runs came with two outs.
- The Jaguars were 6-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
- North Dakota left eight runners on and was hitless in nine attempts with runners in scoring position.
GAME FACTS
- The Hawks had a solid scoring opportunity in the top of the third after a wild pitch had put runners at second and third, but on the very next pitch Finnical was able to get Victoria Minor swinging for her third strikeout of the contest.
- South capitalized on the missed opportunity in the bottom half of the inning. Kvistad singled to left to start things off, and after being moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, Gulledge put runners at the corners. Gulledge then swiped second to put both runners in scoring position. One batter later, Krzywiecki gave the Jaguars the lead (1-0) as she lined a single through the left side of the infield, bringing in Kvistad. Mayo then executed the suicide squeeze for the Jags plating Gulledge and making it 2-0.
- The Fighting Hawks placed the first two batters on to start the third and eventually loaded the bases with two outs after a hit batter, but Finnical was able to get Romero to ground out to second to end the inning.
- The Jags worked some two-out magic in their half of the third. Cronan doubled to left and Kvistad walked on four straight setting the table for Gruich. The junior designated player then drilled the first pitch she saw deep over the wall in left, increasing the Jag advantage to 5-0.
- South put the game away in the sixth as Krzywiecki delivered a RBI single to center – her second run driven in of the game – plating pinch runner MC Nichols. Calderon then drew a two-out walk and B. Reid dropped in a RBI single in shallow right to make it 7-0. Flynn was hit by a pitch to load the bases one batter later and Cronan capped off the night with a RBI single to the gap in left center.
NOTES
- The meeting between South Alabama and North Dakota was the first in the all-time series versus the two clubs.
- It also marked just the fourth time the Jaguars have faced a Summit League member and the first since splitting a doubleheader versus North Dakota in Mobile on April 25, 2015.
- After missing last weekend, Finnical marked the first of her Jaguar career.
- The multi-hit and multi-RBI games for Krzywiecki were the third each of her career, while they were the fourth and sixth, respectively for Gruich.
- Gulledge recorded her third career steal in the second inning.
- The three-run third-inning home run by Gruich was her first of the season and the first by a South Alabama player other than Cronan.
- It was also the sixth home run of Gruich's career.
- Calderon made her Jaguar debut with a pinch-hit walk in the sixth.
- Cronan has now reach driven in a run in each of her three outings.
THEY SAID IT
Head coach Becky Clark
Opening statement: "The biggest thing was I thought we played well as a team. Last weekend was not how we usually play, I think we took it personal this week competing on our home field. We got contributions from everybody up and down the lineup that was the thing that stood out to me the most. Overall it was a great team effort."
On overcoming adversity to win the first game: "It was huge in game one to be able to come back after we got down and get the lead. Then to have Sam [Yarbrough] come in and slam the door, I thought that was a huge spot for her and I'm proud of her for what she did. There were a lot of good things and credit to spread around, a lot of people did a lot of good things tonight."
Freshman SS Kennedy Cronin
On the team's performance in both games: "It was a big step forward for the team, it's going to help us moving forward not just for the rest of the weekend but the rest of the year also."
Freshman P/DP Samantha Yarbrough
On getting two wins on the first day of the tournament: "I think we actually came together and played as a team tonight, we played loose like we know how to play. It all came together tonight, we started out well in both games and continued to put them away like coach wanted us to. I think it was a big step forward as a team."
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/WeAreSout_JAGS. 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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