CONWAY, S.C. – The University of South Alabama scored six runs on six hits in the top of the seventh to rally back and defeat Coastal Carolina, 8-4 Saturday afternoon at St. John Stadium. With the win, the Jaguars remain perfect in Sun Belt Conference play.

Belle Wolfenden (2-for-3) and Meredith Keel (2-for-2) each had two hits in the win, while the latter also scored a pair of runs. Kennedy Cronan drove in three runs for her 16th career multi-RBI game and her fifth of the spring.

UP NEXT
- South Alabama (15-8, 5-0 SBC) will close out the series versus Coastal on Sunday, First pitch versus the Chanticleers is set for 11 a.m. (CT).

SOUTH ALABAMA at COASTAL CAROLINA
Date: 3/20
Place: St. John Stadium (Conway, S.C.)

Final Score: South Alabama 8, Coastal Carolina 4
Records: South Alabama (15-8, 5-0 SBC), Coastal Carolina (7-11, 1-4 SBC)
Pitchers of Record: WP – Kaitlyn Hughes (1-1)  LP – Iyanla De Jesus (1-4)
Home Runs: CCU: Abbey Montoya (3)

GAME FACTS
- After turning a double play to end the second, Keel singled back up the middle with one out and then moved into scoring position with a stolen base. The Jag third baseman then moved up a base on a wild pitch and came in on Caroline Nichols' RBI ground out (1-0).
- The Chanticleers answered back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third. Taylor Sweigart reached on a two-out walk and then came around to score one batter later after Peyton Rivas singled to center and the ball was misplayed, allowing Sweigart to advance home. Makiya Thomas then lined a single to center, plating Rivas (1-2).
- South Alabama tied the game back up at 2-2 in the top of the fourth as Kamdyn Kvistad scored from first on a fielder's choice and three-base throwing error by CCU's second baseman. While attempting to get the force at second, Sweigart's throw was off mark and sailed into foul territory along the left field line, allowing Kvistad to come around and score.
- With one out in the bottom half of the fourth, Montoya homered over the wall in right – her second of the series – to put Coastal back out in front (3-2).
- The Jaguars had an excellent scoring opportunity the next half inning. Wolfenden led off the fifth with a single to left and then moved around to third on a Coastal throwing error on Keel's sac bunt attempt, placing runners at the corners with no outs. Keel then stole second to put a pair of runners in scoring position. However, on a chopper back to the pitcher, Wolfenden was hung up trying to score and Nichols was thrown out at second attempting to advance to second. De Jesus then registered a ground out to end the inning and leave Keel at third.
- Thomas doubled to right with one out the next half inning and Kayla Rosado drove her in one batter later with a single through the right side of the infield (2-4).
- CCU threatened to add on another run in the bottom of the seventh after a two-out walk was issued to Mackenzie Beyer and pinch runner Peyton Ebersole moved up to third after back-to-back wild pitcher. Hughes though was able to get a strikeout to end the inning and leave the runner at third.
- After being held to just two hits through the first six innings, South erupted for six runs in the top of the seventh. Victoria Ortiz looped a single just over the shortstop/s glove and Wolfenden followed with a single of her own to bring the go-ahead run to the plate. Keel then lined a single to left to load the bases. With two outs, Jaguar pinch hitter Camryn McLemore was hit by a pitch to plate a run and Krzywiecki lined a single back up the middle off the pitcher to score Wolfenden and tie the game at 4-4. Kvistad then drew a bases-loaded walk on four-straight out of the zone to score Keel and give South its first lead of the afternoon. Kennedy Cronan then dropped in a double in center that rolled to the wall and cleared the bases (8-4).
- Hughes worked a 1-2-3 bottom half of the inning to complete the comeback.

NOTES
- With her leadoff walk to start the fourth, Krzywiecki extended her reached base safely streak to 10 games.
- In both of her walks, Krzywiecki trailed early on in the count only to battle back and work it full before earning the free pass.
- Krzywiecki extended her career-best hit streak to 10 games with her seventh-inning base hit.
- With her leadoff double to start the game, Nichols extended her hit streak to five games, a career best for the junior outfielder.
- The 16 multi-RBI games for Cronan moves her up to 27th all-time at South in the category.
- With the two hits, Keel now has eight this season, tying her with Mackenzie Brasher for the team lead in the category.
- South was held to two hits through the first six innings and recorded six during its six-run seventh.
- Six of South Alabama's runs came with two outs.
- The last time South Alabama won five-straight Sun Belt games came at the end of the 2017 season.
- The last time the Jaguars started conference play with five-straight wins came during the 2014 season when the club went onto begin league play 8-0.
- The win was the third last at-bat win of the season for South and the fourth come-from-behind.

THEY SAID IT
Head coach Becky Clark
- On the team fighting back to get the win:
"I'm proud of our fight today. Once again, I thought we got good pitching and defense. We kept grinding at the plate and worked together until we could bust it open. We need to build off of this win and take that momentum into tomorrow's 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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