MOBILE, Ala. – South Alabama scored two runs in the seventh and had the go-ahead run at the plate, but the seventh-inning rally came up just short as the Jaguars fell 3-2 to Troy Wednesday evening in a midweek Sun Belt Conference matchup at Jaguar Field.

UP NEXT
- South Alabama (12-25, 2-14 SBC) will now head back on the road for the first of two-straight Sun Belt Conference series away from Mobile as the Jaguars travel to Georgia State for a three-game series. South will open the series versus the Panthers on Friday, (April 12) with first pitch set for 4 p.m. (CT) at the Robert E. Heck Softball Complex. Game two is set for Saturday (April 13) with game three scheduled for Sunday (April 14). The final two games of the series will begin at 12 p.m. (CT).

Date: 4/10
Place: Jaguar Field (Mobile, Ala.)

Final Score: Troy 3, South Alabama 2
Records: Troy (30-13, 12-4 SBC), South Alabama (12-25, 2-14 SBC)

Box Score
Photo Gallery

KEY MOMENT OF THE GAME
- Troy scored three unearned runs in the top of the third, which proved to be the difference as South's seventh-inning rally came up a run short.

STANDOUT PERFORMERS
- Kennedy Cronan was 2-for-3 at the plate with a two-run home run – her ninth of the season.
- Victoria Ortiz also had a double for South.
- Alexis Reid (8-14) took the tough-luck loss as the senior right-hander went the distance allowing three runs (all unearned) on four hits while striking out five.
- Troy's Bailey Taylor was 2-for-2 with a RBI and a hit-by-pitch. Talia Truitt also had a pair of hits in her four at-bats, while scoring a run.
- Leanna Johnson improved to 21-5 on the year and struck out eight in her seven innings of work in the circle.

GAME FACTS
- Troy placed a pair of runners in scoring position in its half of the second. Taylor was hit by a pitch for a Sun Belt-leading 16th time this season with one out and Katie Lively worked the count full before drawing a free pass. With two down in the inning, the Trojan runners advanced to second and third on a wild pitch, but A. Reid was able to get Kaylee Chapman to ground out to short to work out of the jam.
- The Trojans took a 3-0 lead with three runs on two hits, two wild pitches and two Jaguar errors their next time at the plate in the third. Truitt reached on an infield single and then advanced to third on the first error of the inning on Madeline Porter's sacrifice bunt attempt. Porter moved up a base on a wild pitch to put runners at second and third. Two batters later, Truitt came home on another wild pitch and Stephanie Snyder then reached on the second Jag miscue of the inning. The final two runs of the Troy in the inning came on a RBI ground out by Kaylee Hussey and a RBI single off the bat of Taylor.
- Troy had another scoring opportunity with a pair of runners on in the fourth, but Cronan made an outstanding play deep in the hole at short to throw out Katie Lively and end the inning.
- South finally got to Johnson in the bottom of the seventh. After retiring 16 straight, Ortiz led off the inning with a double to the gap in left center. Cronan then came to the plate and cut the deficit to 3-2 when the freshman drove a 2-2 offering over the wall in center to score a pair. Two batters later, Kvistad worked the count full and drew a one-out walk to bring the potential winning run to the plate. Johnson though was able to get a pair of pop outs on the infield to end the game.

NOTES
- Wednesday night's meeting marked the 37th in the all-time series and the 19th in Mobile.
- The two clubs will also face each other in Troy, Ala., in a two game set to close out the regular season on May 3-4.
- Cronan extended her streak of reached base safely to eight games with the seventh-inning home run.
- The two-run shot by Cronan was also 34th of the season for South Alabama, which now rank as sixth-most in a season in program history.
- The nine home runs by Cronan are now tied with Jenny Stevens for second-most by a Jag freshman in program history and just two shy of tying for top honors.
- The nine home runs are also tied with three other former South Alabama players for fifth-most in a single season overall.
- The 10 doubles by Ortiz are tied for third-most by a freshman at South and
- The Jaguars have now recorded at least one home run in 25 of their last 33 games, including the last four outings.
- Troy's Johnson retired the side in order in the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings.

THEY SAID IT
Head coach Becky Clark
- On the game: "I thought Lex [Alexis Reid] pitched well enough to win tonight. We had some hiccups [defensively] in the game and then we had some other things go against us. Our hitters kept battling and kept fighting. We were finally able to get something going at the end and we just need to build off of that and take that into this weekend against Georgia State."

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/WeAreSouth_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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