MOBILE, Ala. – A pair of freshmen – Jenna Hardy and Mackenzie Brasher – helped the University of South Alabama softball team pick up its first win of the season Tuesday night as the Jags defeated Southern, 6-2 in its home opener at Jaguar Field.

Brasher recorded a pair of hits, scored a run, drove in a run and stole a base, while Hardy tossed a complete game for South striking out nine and allowing just a pair of hits.

UP NEXT
- South Alabama (1-5) will host the Jaguar Challenge this weekend at Jaguar Field. The Jags will open up the tournament Friday versus Austin Peay at 6 p.m.

Date: 2/11
Place: Jaguar Field (Mobile, Ala.)

Final Score: South Alabama 6, Southern 2
Records: South Alabama (1-5), Southern (0-5)

STANDOUT PERFORMERS
- Brasher was 2 for 3 at the plate, stole a base, drove in a run and scored once in the victory.
- In her seven innings in the circle, Hardy (1-2) struck out nine, allowed just the two hits and didn't issue a walk.
- Abby Krzywiecki drove in a pair of runs with her triple.
- MC Nichols scored a run and had two stolen bases, while Hughen walked and scored twice.
- Cameron Andrews had a double and scored a run for Southern.

GAME FACTS
- South got on the board with two runs in the bottom of the first. M. Nichols was hit by a pitch to start the inning and then stole second and third. Kennedy Cronan walked to put runners at the corners and Kamdyn Kvistad pushed across the first Jaguar run of the evening with a single through the left side of the infield. The second run of the inning came as Cronan scored on an error after an infield fly, making it 2-0.
- The Jaguars added another run their next time up as Brasher, who had singled earlier in the inning stole second and then scored after two SU errors attempting to get her out (3-0).
- Southern trimmed its deficit to one (3-2) with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. Andrews led off the inning with a double. With runners at second and third, South looked as if it might get out of the inning unscathed after a pair of outs, but Roxsanna Segura's two-run bloop single scored a pair.
- South Alabama answered right back with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning, Krzywiecki tripled off the wall in right, scoring Flynn and Hughen to increase the Jag advantage to 5-2.
- The Jags added another run in the sixth when Brasher lined a single to right, allowing Hughen, who had walked and stole second, to score (6-2).
- Hardy pitched a spotless seventh to earn her first collegiate win.

NOTES
- The game marked the home opener for South Alabama. The Jags improved to 10-4 in those games and have won four of their last five.
- With the win, South improves to 2-0 in the all-time series with the win and 24-1 against Southwestern Athletic Conference opponents.
- Hardy retired the first nine batters that she faced, recording four of her nine strikeouts during that stretch.
- The multi-hit game was the first of Brasher's career.
- The fifth-inning triple by Krzywiecki marked the second of her career and the fourth of the season for South Alabama. The Jags had four total all of last season.
- Wither her base-hit, Flynn has now reached base safely in all six games this season.

THEY SAID IT
Head coach Becky Clark
- On being home for the first time this season: "It was great to play on our home field after being on the road this past weekend. We were excited to be back on Jaguar Field and be in front of our home fans. There's always an added level of excitement and that give us good energy.
- On Jenna Hardy's performance in the circle: "I was happy with Jenna [Hardy] she attacked the zone didn't have any walks. I always love when we don't have walks. I am a throw strikes kind of person and I thought she did that well. I thought we made them earn it and play good defense for the most part. There are some things that we have to clean up, I wasn't really happy about what transpired in the fourth inning. However, we did enough at the plate to push some runs across. That's something that we need going into this weekend is better at-bats. There were some bright spots at the plate, but I didn't think that we had great at-bats across all seven innings and we have to get to that point."

Freshman outfielder Mackenzie Brasher
- On her performance and getting the win: "I worked alongside my team and we were able to come together to get a win that we needed. It means a lot to get our first win at home by coming together and giving all of effort for the person next to us."

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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