MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama picked up an 8-0, five-inning victory over Stephen F. Austin in its first game of the Mardi Gras Invitational on Friday, but fell 11-2 to No. 18 Illinois in the nightcap at Jaguar Field.
UP NEXT
- South Alabama (5-6) will continue play at the Mardi Gras Invitational with a pair of games on Saturday. The Jags are scheduled to take on Hofstra at 1:30 p.m. and then face Stephen F. Austin again at 6 p.m.
Date: 2/22
Place: Jaguar Field (Mobile, Ala.)
South Alabama vs. Stephen F. Austin
Final Score: South Alabama 8, Stephen F. Austin 0 (5 inn.)
Records: South Alabama (5-5), Stephen F. Austin (9-4)
Box Score
KEY MOMENT OF THE GAME
- Dayla Gulledge drove a ball down the left field line that stayed fair for a three-run home run in the top of the first, putting the Jaguars out in front for good.
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
- Gullede was 2-for-2 at the plate with a walk and drove in six runs – a three-run home run and a three-run double.
- Brittani Reid was also perfect against the Ladyjacks as she was 3-for-3 with a double and two runs scored.
- Katelyn Gruich carded the other RBI for South in the win.
- Alexis Reid (3-3) went the distance scattering five hits and striking out two in her five innings of work.
GAME FACTS
- SFA placed runners at first and second with a pair of base hits in the top of the first, but A. Reid was able to get Brittany Crawford to hit a chopper back to the circle for the ground out to end the inning.
- South Alabama got on the board in the bottom half of the opening frame with three runs on three hits. B. Reid led things off with a double to the gap in left center and Kamdyn Kvistad later put two runners aboard with a one-out walk. With two away and runners at second and third, Gulledge hit a towering three-run shot down the leftfield line to give the Jags the 3-0 lead.
- The Jaguars loaded the bases their next time up with one out on a pair of singles and a walk, but Kassidy Wilbur (5-3) recorded back-to-back strikeouts to end the frame.
- Two innings later South Alabama broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth with a five-run inning. The Jaguars again loaded the bases after singles by M.C. Nichols, B. Reid and Kennedy Conan. The first run of the inning came into score two batters later when Gruich was hit by a pitch. Gulledge then provided another three-run hit as she lined a double into the leftfield corner. Gulledge was able to advance to third and score on the play after a pair of SFA throwing errors.
- Stephen F. Austin loaded the bases in the top of the fifth on three singles, but A. Reid was able to get out of the jam and complete the shutout after a play at the plate on a wild pitch and a beautiful through from Kennedy deep in the hole at short getting Bailey Richards at first to end the game.
NOTES
- The meeting versus Stephen F. Austin was just the second in the all-time series with the other meeting coming on Feb. 24, 2017. Both of the series meetings have come in Mobile and both have been South Alabama victories.
- The second-inning home run by Gulledge was her second of the season and the seventh of her career.
- With Gulledge's home run, South has now homered in six of its last seven games. The senior right fielder also set a career-high in RBI.
- The multi-hit game for Gulledge was the fourth of her career and the first since her freshman season. It was also the ninth multi-RBI game by the Dothan, Ala., native in a Jaguar uniform.
- The three-hit performance by B. Reid tied a career high and was her 14th career multi-hit effort.
- With the hit-by-pitch, Gruich moved into stand-alone third in the category in the Jaguar record books.
South Alabama vs. Illinois
Final Score: No. 18 Illinois 11, South Alabama 2
Records: Illinois (8-2), South Alabama (5-6)
Box Score
KEY MOMENT OF THE GAME
- The Illini broke a 1-1 ball game and took the lead for good with a five-run third with all five runs coming with two outs in the inning, and three of which came on bases-loaded walks.
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
- Gruich was one of six players to record a hit on the night and scored a run, while Gulledge waked three times and score a run as well for the Jags.
- Abby Krzywiecki also had an RBI, while Holly Stewart had a pinch-hit RBI.
- UI's Bella Loya reached base all five of her plate appearances, going 4-for-4 with a double and a home run in addition to driving in four runs, scoring twice and walking once.
- Carly Thomas was also 2-for-3 at the plate and scored three times.
- Sydney Sickels improved to 5-1 and struck out six in her six innings of work.
GAME FACTS
- Illinois struck first with a run in the opening frame. Kiana Sherland walked and stole second to start the game and then came around to score on Loya's two-out single to center (1-0).
- South placed a runner in scoring position in the bottom half of the first as Cronan dropped in a single in shallow in right center and advanced to second when Illinois threw behind her.
- The Jags had another scoring opportunity their next time up as Gulledge walked and Taylor Stevens delivered a one-out single through the left side of the infield to place runners at first and second. Stewart delivered the big two-out hit for the Jaguars lining a single to center which scored Gulledge and placed runners at the corners, tying the game at 1-1.
- USA had a chance to do more damage in the inning as they loaded the bases on a walk by B. Reid, but Sickels was able to get a foul out to end the inning.
- The Fighting Illini answered back in the top of the third. After two quick outs, Thomas lined a double to the gap in left center and Annie Fleming walked on four straight. Loya then drove in her second run in as many at-bats with a RBI single to center that was nearly caught by a diving play from M. Nichols (2-1). Yarbrough then issued three-straight walks, which loaded the bases and brought in two more runs (Fleming and Loya).
- Illinois added two more runs in the inning on another bases-loaded walk and when Rhein Trochim beat out an infield single to make it 6-1. For the inning, UI sent 11 batters to the plate and recorded five runs on three hits and four walks.
- South had runners in scoring position its next time up with runners at first and second. Kvistad led off the inning with a single to left and Gruich later reached on a fielder's choice, but Sickels strike out the final three Jag batters to work out of the jam.
- Illinois extended its lead with two more runs in the fourth. Thomas walked to start the frame and then after moving into scoring position one batter later, Loya delivered her third-straight RBI hit of the night as she doubled off the base of the wall in left (7-1). The Illini added an unearned run later in the inning when a passed ball and a wild pitch scored Danielle Davis, who was pinch-running for Loya.
- Illinois gained an eight-run advantage with a run in the top of the fifth as the Illini loaded the bases and had another run cross on a bases-loaded walk.
- South stayed alive as the Jags answered with a two-out run in the bottom half of the inning. Gruich lined a single to left and then moved to second on Gulledge's walk. Krzywiecki then dropped in a single that was just out of the reach of second baseman Avrey Steiner allowing Gruich to score (9-2). Gulledge was thrown out trying to advance to third on the play to end the frame.
- Illinois tacked on two more runs in its half of the seventh as the first run scored on a Jaguar fielding error and the second came on a solo shot to left center by Loya.
- South loaded the bases with two outs on three walks in the bottom of the seventh, but Danielle Brochu was able to get a ground out to third to end the game.
NOTES
- The contest versus Illinois marked the second Top 25 opponent for the Jaguars this week as they also faced No. 1 Florida State on Wednesday night. The Illini are ranked in all three of the major polls this week with their highest ranking coming in at No. 18 in the Softball America poll.
- The meeting was the fourth in the all-time series between the two teams, but the first on either's home field. South Alabama had won each of those previous three meetings.
- Friday's game also marked the 23rd time South Alabama has faced an opponent from the Big Ten Conference. The four meetings versus Illinois are the most against any team from the league.
- Stewart's pinch-hit RBI single in the second inning was the freshman's first career hit as a Jag.
- South Alabama pitching issued four bases-loaded walks in the contests.
- The Jaguars left six of their 10 runners on base over the first three innings.
- Stevens recorded two caught stealings in the contest bringing her season total to three.
- Illinois scored at least one run in every inning except the second and sixth innings. In both of those innings, the Jags faced the minimum and threw a runner out attempting to steal second.
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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