BOONE, N.C. – The University of South Alabama softball team scored 10 runs and fought off a late charge by App State as the Jaguars picked up a 10-6 victory over the Mountaineers Sunday afternoon at Swayssink Lloyd Family Stadium.
UP NEXT
- South Alabama (16-14, 9-1 SBC) will return home to host Louisiana on April 14-16 (Thu.-Sat.) in a three-game set. First pitch of the series opener versus the Ragin' Cajuns is set for 6 p.m. Game two is set to start at 6 p.m. with the series finale scheduled for 12 p.m.
Date: 4/8
Place: Swayssink Lloyd Family Stadium (Boone, N.C.)
Final Score: South Alabama 10, Appalachian State 6
Records: South Alabama (16-14, 9-1 SBC), Appalachian State 21-15, 7-6 SBC)
Pitchers of Record: WP – Olivia Lackie (8-4)  LP – Delani Buckner (9-6)
Home Runs: USA: Victoria Ortiz (6): APP: McKenzie McCullen (6), Emma Jones (6)
SCORING
- USA (1st Inn.) | Ortiz homered to left, 2 RBI; Mackenzie Brasher scored from first (2-0, 1 out)
- USA 2 (2nd Inn.) | Caroline Nichols sacrifice fly to center, RBI; Meredith Keel scored from third (3-0, 0 out)
- USA (5th Inn.) | Gabby Stagner doubled to right center, 3 RBI; Ortiz scored from third, pinch runner Shelby Sloan scored from second, Abby Allen scored from first (6-0, 2 out)
- APP (5th Inn.) | McCullen homered to left center, RBI (6-1, 1 out)
- APP (6th Inn.) | Mary Pierce Barnes doubled to left center, 2 RBI; E. Jones scored from first, unearned, Kayt Houston scored from second, unearned (6-3, 2 out)
- USA (7th Inn.) | Stagner singled down the left field line, RBI; Brasher scored from third (8-3, 1 out)
- USA (7th Inn.) | Belle Wolfenden singled to left center, RBI; Kamdyn Kvistad scored from third (8-3, 1-0)
- USA (7th Inn.) | Janeah Finney singled to left center, RBI; Allen scored from third (9-3, 1 out)
- USA (7th Inn.) | Keel sacrifice fly to center, RBI; Stagner scored from third (10-3, 1 out)
- APP (7th Inn.) | E. Jones homered to center, 3 RBI; Addison Jones scored from second, Kati Waalk scored from first (10-6, 1 out)
GAME FACTS
- South Alabama quickly jumped out in front with two runs in the top of the first. Â After Brasher walked, Ortiz drilled the first pitch she saw over the wall in left to put the Jags up 2-0.
- The Jags threatened to add more in the inning, loading the bases with a pair of walks and a base hit, but Buckner was able to get a strikeout to end the inning.
- Keel led off the top of the second with a single and advanced all the way to third after a fielding error by the App State left fielder. Nichols lifted a fly ball to center that was deep enough to allow Keel to race home for South's third run of the game.Â
- App State recorded its first hit as Emma Jones led off the bottom of the fourth with a single and moved into scoring position with two outs, but Lackie was able to get a ground ball out to end the inning and leave Jones at second.
- South Alabama put runners at second and third with two out in the top of the fifth after a pair of wild pitches and then loaded the bases after Abby Allen drew her second walk of the contest. Stagner then delivered a bases-clearing double to the gap in right center to double the Jaguar lead (6-0).
- The Mountaineers got on the board in the bottom half of the inning as McCullen homered over the wall in left center (6-1).
- Errors proved costly in the bottom half of the sixth as App State placed a pair on with two outs. Barnes then doubled off the wall in left center to score a pair of unearned runs. After the third error of the inning, App had two more aboard, but with the potential tying run at the plate, Lackie was able to get a ground out to first to end the inning and leave the runners stranded.
- South Alabama loaded the bases with one out in the top half of the seventh and then scored four-straight runs after RBI singles by Stagner, Wolfenden and Finney, along with a sac fly by Keel to stretch their lead back out to 10-3.
- E. Jones trimmed the Jaguar lead to four (10-6) with her three-run home run to center, but that was as close as the Mountaineers got as South recorded the final two outs of the game.
- Brasher reached base twice with a hit and a walk, also scored a pair of runs. Along with her home run, Ortiz scored twice as well.
- Allen walked three times and scored twice, while Kvistad also drew a pair of walks and scored a run.
- Stagner was 3-for-4 with four RBI and a run scored.
- Keel also had a pair of hits and scored a run and drove in a run.
NOTES
- The series opener was suspended (45 hours) in the top of the first inning with one out and South leading 2-0 and wasn't resumed until Sunday afternoon due to weather.
- With the win, South Alabama improves to 20-4 in the all-time series and has won the last six in the series.
- Brasher extended her reached base safely streak 13 games with her first-inning walk.
- Ortiz has now driven in at least one run in seven of her last 10 outings and eight of South's 10 conference games this spring.
- Allen drew her team-leading 22nd walk in the opening frame and then walked again in the fifth. She now has drawn 14 free passes in her last 11 outings, including five games with two walks or more.
- Nichols extended her reached base safely streak to 12 with her fifth-inning, infield single.
- With her two hits, Keel posted her third multi-hit game of the spring, her 19th as a Jag and the 31st of her collegiate career.
- Ortiz and Stagner drove in six of South's 10 runs and combined to record 26 runs in Sun Belt competition.Â
- Stagner now has nine RBI in bases loaded situations with her four against the Mountaineers. The four RBI also tie a career high for the freshman.
- The seventh-inning base hit and RBI were the first of Finney's South Alabama career.
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. Â Members have access to purchase parking passes and receive Jaguar Softball gear. Â All donations to the Bullpen Club go directly to support the South Alabama softball program. Â For more information on how you can join visit: Â jaguarathleticfund.com/bullpenclub.
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