MOBILE, Ala. – Kamdyn Kvistad went 2-for-3 at the plate and homered twice Friday night, but 17th-ranked Missouri scored seven runs in the second and third innings to pick up an 8-3 victory over the University of South Alabama softball team on day one of the South Alabama Invitational.
Kvistad scored a pair of runs and drove in three, while Kennedy Cronan also added two hits in the loss.
UP NEXT
- South Alabama (4-5) will continue tournament action with a pair of games on Saturday, as the Jaguars will face Middle Tennessee at 1:30 p.m. and SIU-Edwardsville at 6 p.m.
Date: 2/26
Place: Jaguar Field (Mobile, Ala.)
SOUTH ALABAMA vs. NO. 17 MISSOURI
Final Score: No. 17 Missouri 8, South Alabama 3
Records: Missouri (9-2), South Alabama (4-5)
Pitchers of Record: W – Emma Nichols (2-1) L – Jenna Hardy (1-1)
Home Runs: USA: Kamdyn Kvistad 2 (3); MIZZ: Kim Wert (5)
GAME FACTS
- The Jaguars struck first with a pair of two-out runs in the opening frame. Cronan laced a double to the gap in right center and Kvistad then drilled a 2-2 offering over the wall in left to give South the 2-0 advantage.
- Missouri loaded the bases in the top half of the second after a pair of one-out walks and a infield chopper that allowed Alex Honnold to reach. Jenna Laird then plated a run to make it 2-1 with a RBI ground out to second.
Brooke Wilmes reached on an infield single to score another run and tie the game up. Then while Wilmes attempted to advance to second, Honnald came home and beat the throw home to give the Tigers the 3-2 lead.
- The Tigers added to their lead one inning later, scoring four runs on three hits, while being aided by a pair of South Alabama errors. After a leadoff walk to Hatti Moore started the third, Missouri increased its lead to three (5-2) on a two-run home run off the bat of Kim Wert – her fifth of the spring. Three batters later, Casidy Chaumont (infield single) scored on a fielder's choice and a throwing error to make it 6-2. Honnold then plated the fourth run of the inning with a RBI-single to right (7-2).
- South Alabama placed a pair of runners on with one away in its half of the fourth after an infield single by Shelby Sloan to start the frame and a single back up the middle from Amanda Flynn. The duo then moved up a base after a wild pitch, but Tiger reliever Nichols posted the 10th strikeout of the night to end the inning.
- Kvistad trimmed the Tiger lead to 7-3 as the senior went deep for the second time with a two-out, solo shot over the wall in left.
- The Tigers added an unearned run in the top of the seventh. Chaumont reached on an error – the third of the game for South – who later came home on Honnold's single to left (8-3).
NOTES
- The meeting versus the Tigers marked second in the all-time series and the third of six scheduled against an opponent from the Southeastern Conference this spring. It was also the 58th all-time meeting versus a SEC foe.
- The two-run, first inning home run was the 20th of Kvistad's career, which ranks as sixth-most on the program list.
- In the fifth the solo home run by Kvistad – her second of the game – marked the 18th time in program history that a Jaguar player has hit two or more in a single game. The senior infielder has now done it three occasions.
- The last time a South Alabama player had two or more home runs in a game came back on April 20, 2019 (Victoria Ortiz, at ULM).
- Four of South Alabama's five home runs this spring have come with two outs.
- The multi-hit performance marked the 31st of Kvistad's career, moving her into a tie for 13th on the all-time list. She also moved into a tie for 13th with former Jag Haleigh Lowe for 13th the three RBI night was the 18th time she has driven in two or more runs in a game.
- Olivia Lackie entered in relief – her eighth appearance this season – in the fifth and retired the Tigers in order, the first time Jag pitching had done so.
- In her three innings in the circle, Lackie struck out five, increasing her league-leading total to 39 on the year.
- Missouri starter Krings' first six outs of the game – and six of the first nine batters she faced – came via the strike out as she finished with nine in her three-and-two-thirds innings of work.
- Four of the Tigers' seven hits with runners in scoring position
- Honnald was 3-for-3 with a run scored and two RBI for the Tigers.
THEY SAID IT
Head coach Becky Clark
- On the loss:
"Tonight was a frustrating loss. We gave away too many opportunities and didn't take care of the little things that win games. We have to use this game as a turning point to get better and move forward going into tomorrow."
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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