MOBILE, Ala. – The University put up a pair of three-run innings and opened up the Jaguar Challenge with an 8-2 win over Austin Peay Friday night at Jaguar Field.
UP NEXT
- South Alabama (2-5) will next take on the Governors (2-2) Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m., before facing Evansville at 4:45 p.m., on day two of the Jaguar Challenge.
Date: 2/14
Place: Jaguar Field (Mobile, Ala.)
Final Score: South Alabama 8, Austin Peay 2
Records: South Alabama (2-5), Austin Peay (2-2)
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
- Katelyn Gruich and Allie Hughen each drove in a pair of runs as Gruich had a double and a sacrifice fly.
- MC Nichols scored twice, stole a pair of bases and reached base safely as she recorded a hit and a walke.
- Mackenzie Brasher also scored twice and had a hit and drew a walk, while Kamdyn Kvistad scored two times and drove in a run.
- Jenna Hardy (2-2) struck out five Austin Peay batters and didn't issue a walk for the second straight outing.
- Lexi Hutchins pitched a scoreless seventh in relief and struck out a batter as well.
- Emily Harkleroad was 2-for-3 for the Lady Govs and drove in a run in the loss.
GAME FACTS
- The Lady Govs jumped out in front with an unearned run in the top of the first after three-straight two-out infield singles which also included a Jaguar error. Harkleroad brought in Lexi Osowski with a RBI single (1-0).
- In the bottom half of the inning, M. Nichols and Brasher singled and move to second and third after an Austin Peay wild pitch. Kennedy Cronan then plated the first run for South when she reached on an AP fielding error. Brasher came home on a RBI groundout by Kvistad and Gruich scored Cronan on a sac fly to left to make it 3-1 Jags.
- South added to its lead with two more runs in its half of the third. Brasher scored her second run of the game when the freshman swiped third base and then came home after the throw to third was wild. Gruich then made it 5-1 for the Jags when the senior third baseman lined a double down the left field line, plating Kvistad.
- Austin Peay chipped away at the Jaguar advantage with a run in the fifth. Brooke Pfefferle singled to right to lead off the inning and then moved into scoring position with a stolen base. With two outs in the inning, Bailey Shorter lined a double to the gap in left center to bring home Pfefferle (5-2).
- As they did in the first, South answered the Governors' run in the top half of the inning with a three-spot in its half of the fifth. The Jaguars loaded the bases after a pair of walks and a single off the bat of Kvistad. With two away, the bench would come through as pinch-hitter Breanna Barlow singled through the left side of the infield to score M. Nichols. Hughen then brought in two more with a RBI single of her own, giving USA the 8-2 advantage.
- Brett Jackson looked as if she had added another run for the Governors after she lined a ball of the wall in left, but ?? was called out for missing the bag at second, ending the inning.
NOTES
- The meeting was the fifth in the all-time series between the two clubs as South moved to 5-0 with the win.
- It was just the second meeting in the series in Mobile.
- With the win, South now holds a 4-1 record in the Jaguar Challenge.
- The multi-RBI game was the 12th of Gruich's career.
- The two stolen bases by M. Nichols tied a career high for the senior and marked the second-straight game she has done so.
- Through South's first seven game, the Jags had just pinch hit one time this season, but did so three times on Friday night with those batters going 2-for-3 in those situations.
- The pinch hits for both Barlow and Emma Kropp were the first collegiate hits of their careers.
- Seven of Austin Peay's eight hits came with two outs in an inning.
THEY SAID IT
Head coach Becky Clark
- On the win: "This was a great team win for us tonight. We had some great at-bats throughout the game. I was happy to see some players come in off the bench and have great at-bats as well. I love having that kind of depth. I thought Jenna [Hardy] did a great job of throwing strikes and attacking hitters. Lexi [Hutchins] coming in at the end was able to get some ground balls and close it down for us.
"This was a great start to the weekend. I want to see us keep this same approach to the game and intensity. I thought we had good energy and some great situational hitting. Some places where all we needed was a ground ball to the right side, we got it, or a sac fly, we got it. All the way around, I thought we played a clean game and a great team game."
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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