MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama softball team used a three-run home run off the bat of Victoria Ortiz to rally back and defeat Murray State (4-2) in game one of the day, and Allie Hughen tossed a complete-game, shutout in the nightcap as the Jaguars earned a 6-0 victory over Lipscomb Friday night at the Jaguar Classic presented by Marriott Mobile held at Jaguar Field.

Meredith Keel recorded four hits, scored twice, drove in a run in the two games, while Mackenzie Brasher also finished the day with four hits, scored twice, and drove in a run. Kamdynd Kvistad went 2-for-3 at the plate in both wins, while driving in two and scoring twice against the Bison.

UP NEXT
- South Alabama (3-2) will return to action with two more games on Saturday. The Jaguars will face Murray State at 3:30 p.m., and then Butler at 6 p.m., on day two of the Jaguar Classic.

Date: 2/19
Place: Jaguar Field (Mobile, Ala.)

SOUTH ALABAMA vs. MURRAY STATE
Final Score: South Alabama 4, Murray State 2
Records: South Alabama (2-2), Murray State (1-5)
Pitchers of Record: W – Olivia Lackie (1-2)  L – Jenna Veber (0-3)
Home Runs: USA: Victoria Ortiz (1)

GAME FACTS
- South Alabama had a prime scoring opportunity in the bottom of the third, loading the bases after a pair of infield hits from Bailey Welch and Keel, and a single back the middle off the bat of Brasher – her second hit in as many at-bats. Murray State's Jenna Veber was able to retire the next two Jag batters thought with a strikeout and a ground out to keep the game scoreless.
- The Racers capitalized on the missed scoring opportunity as they scored a pair of runs (one unearned) in the top of the fourth. With runners at first and second, Logan Braundmeir singled back up the middle, allowing Sierra Gilmore to score, Murray State also added an unearned run on the play as the throw in from center into third was low and got passed Keel, which allowed Lindsey Carroll to race home to the plate and give the Racers a 2-0 advantage.
- South put a pair of runners on with one out in the bottom of the fifth as Keel singled through the right side of the infield and Brasher recorded her third hit of the game – the first three-hit performance of the sophomore's career – with an infield single. The Jag duo then moved up 60 feet on a passed ball, and two batters later with two outs in the frame, Victoria Ortiz unloaded on the first pitch that she saw from Veber as she drove a three-run bomb over the wall in right center to give the Jags the lead (3-2).
- Murray State placed runners at second and third with one away the next half inning after a leadoff single and a one-out walk and a wild pitch, Olivia Lackie was able to work out of the jam and hold the one-run lead as she recorded back-to-back strikeouts and end the threat.
- The Racers looked as if they were going to have a quick sixth, but the inning was kept alive as Welch reached on a three-base error after her ball to left center was dropped by MSU center fielder Jenna Striegel. Keel made the visitors pay and tacked on an insurance run for the Jags as she lined a single back of the middle to plate Welch and extend South's lead to 4-2.

NOTES
- The meeting versus the Racers marked the fifth in the series and first since 2018. With the win, the Jaguars have now won four of those five meetings.
- South Alabama had a runner in scoring position in each of the first three innings, but was unable to drive one in, leaving four runners on base over that span.
- Brasher (3-for-3) and Kvistad (2-for-3) both recorded multi-hit performances finishing with three and two hits, respectively. It was Kvistad's 29th career multi-hit outing, while it was the seventh of Brasher's young career.
- With her three hit effort, Keel (3-for-4) has now had at least two hits in each of South's first four contests this spring.
- Lackie picked up the victory in relief as she struck out seven batters in her three-and-two-thirds innings of work.
- Ortiz – a first-team all-Sun Belt selection and the league's Freshman of the Year in 2019 – returned to the Jaguar lineup and made her first start of the season after missing the three games last weekend and all of the 2020 season due to a knee injury.
- Ortiz's home run was the seventh of her career and her 24th career extra-base hit.
- Both of South's home runs this season have come with two outs and have been three-run home runs.
- The start at designated player also marked just the second career start for sophomore Camryn McLemore.

SOUTH ALABAMA vs. LIPSCOMB
Final Score: South Alabama 6, Lipscomb 0
Records: South Alabama (3-2), Lipscomb (0-2)
Pitchers of Record: W – Allie Hughen (1-0)  L – Emily Yakubowski
Home Runs: USA: Kamdyn Kvisdatd (1)

GAME FACTS
- The Jaguars wasted little time getting into the scoring column in game two of the day. Keel led off the opening frame with a single – her fourth hit of the day – and two batters later came home (1-0) on Kvistad's double to left center. Belle Wolfenden plated the Jag first baseman as her base hit dropped in left along to the line for a double to make it 2-0.
- Kvistad led off the bottom of the third with a solo shot to right center – her third extra base hit of the afternoon – to extend the Jaguar advantage to 3-0.
- South stretched its lead to 5-0 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth as Emma Kropp delivered a pinch-hit, two-run triple that landed in the gap in left center and rolled to the wall. The Kropp hit allowed both Brasher and Abby Allen to score and give the Jags the five-run lead.
- The Jags added another run (6-0) in their half of the fifth as Wolfenden (triple) came home on Kassidy Wilcox's sacrifice fly to center.

NOTES
- The meeting versus the Bison marked the eighth between the two clubs in the all-time series between the two programs.
- Along with her contributions at the plate. Keel also made a couple of outstanding defensive plays – including a diving stop on a liner in the third inning – in which she was able to double off a runner at first.
- The third-inning home run by Kvistaad was the 19th of her career, moving her into sixth on the program's all-time list in that category.
- The two triples recorded by South in the game were the most since hitting three against Illinois on Feb. 8 of last spring.
- South Alabama scored at least one run in four of the first five innings
- Five of South's seven hits in the contest went for extra bases.
- Hughen went the distance for the Jaguars allowing just two hits and one walk, while striking out five. The complete game was the fourth of her Jag career, while the shutout was her first.
- Of Hughen's 107 pitches thrown, 71 landed in the strike zone.
- Lipscomb's seventh-inning single by Caitlin Turner was just the second hit of the game and the first hit allowed by Hughen since the third inning.
- South's leadoff batter reached base safely in five it six innings, compared to just once by the Bison.

THEY SAID IT
Head coach Becky Clark
- On the team's performance on day one:
"Overall, I thought today was a good start for us. It's always great to win on your home field and especially home opener. Both wins today were great team wins. We were tested in the first game, but responded with a come from behind win. Having [Victoria] Ortiz back in the lineup is a boost and her teammates creating opportunities in front of her were huge. [Jenna] Hardy and [Olivia] Lackie's combined effort was enough to give our offense a chance. In game two, I thought [Allie] Hughen pitched a great game. Allie always competes and she throws strikes so she always gives her team a chance. She had some great defense behind her as well and our offense applied pressure the entire game. I was able to go to the bench and get production as well. [Emma] Kropp's pinch hit came at a great time and helped put the game away. Tomorrow will be a test for us to come out and stay aggressive and have consistent effort."

Pitcher Allie Hughen
- On what was working well for her in the circle:
"A lot of it was just confidence. My pitches were doing what they always do, but tonight, I had the confidence in myself and the confidence of my team behind me."
- On importance of the defensive plays behind the pitchers:
"It was crucial. There were a lot of diving plays and diving catches that got me out of innings and got me through some batters that were tough outs."

Infielder Meredith Keel
- On comeback win in game one and carrying that momentum into game two of the day:
"The first win got our feet wet with us being on our home field in front of our fans, and that gave us the confidence in game two for us to be able to come out and play loose and like we know how to play. We were able to push through and score a lot of runs [against Lipscomb] and our defense was awesome tonight."
- On the defense:
"Big defensive plays like we made tonight change momentum and bring a lot of energy, so I think it helped our team and motivate us in the dugout and in our at-bats. That momentum from the defense carried over to the plate and was big for our pitching staff because they know we have their backs."

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).

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