MOBILE, Ala. | Behind
Gabby Stagner's two-hit, four-RBI afternoon and a combined shutout effort in the circle from
Olivia Lackie and
Jenna Hardy the South Alabama softball team picked up a 4-0 victory over Rutgers at Jaguar Field on Sunday to take home the tournament title at the Mardi Gras Classic presented by Beebe's Termite & Pest Control.
South Alabama (5-4) earned its fourth-straight victory with the win.
Lackie (3-2) tossed four innings of scoreless ball, allowing just two hits and striking out four, while Hardy closed out the game with three scoreless innings of her own.
Along with Stagner,
Victoria Ortiz was 2-for3 at the plate with a pair of runs scored, while four other Jags also had a hit in the contest.
MARDI GRAS CLASSIC (presented by Beebe's Termite & Pest Control)
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Odalys Cordova, South Alabama
Marley Sims, South Alabama
Olivia Lackie, South Alabama
Jenna Hardy, South Alabama
Meredith Keel, South Alabama
Victoria Ortiz, South Alabama
Gabby Stagner, South Alabama
Ashley Hitchcock, Rutgers
Kyleigh Sand, Rutgers
Morgan Smith, Rutgers
Mackenzie Swick, Missouri State
Abby Ford, Missouri State
Quotable – head coach Becky Clark
- On the win: "I'm proud of our effort today. We got great innings out of Liv (
Olivia Lackie) and Jenn (
Jenna Hardy). They competed and never gave in. Offensively, we strung more quality at-bats together and got the big hit when we needed. I felt like we worked together better and earned our win today. We have a big wek ahead of us and have to stay focused on the things that are bringing us success."
Sophomore first baseman Gabby Stagner
- On closing out the tournament with another win: "It was great for us to come out and get a win to close out the tournament. We really needed it to help us push forward, and I'm really excited to see what we can do."
- On her performance at the plate on Sunday: "At the plate, I was just telling myself to work through the middle of the field, and my approach worked. I'm glad I could get some hits and help my team out today."
South Alabama 4, Rutgers 0
The Jags struck first with two runs in the bottom half of the second. Ortiz led off the frame with a solid single back up the middle and then two pitches later, Stagner blasted a 1-0 offering deep over the wall in center (2-0).
Rutgers threatened to try to get something going with a two-out triple to right center by Kyleigh Sand, but Lackie was able to leave her stranded with a fly out to end the top of the third.
Meredith Keel beat out an infield single to start the bottom of the third and then moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Two batters later, the Jags put a pair of runners in scoring position on an infield single by Ortiz, who advanced to second when Keel got in a run down, allowing the senior outfielder to move up. Stagner then delivered again as she dropped in a two-out, two-run single in shallow left to give South a four-run advantage.
The Scarlet Knights had another two-out scoring opportunity after a hit batter and a two-out single, but Keel snagged a hard-hit liner at third to end the Rutger fourth.
For the third time in as many innings, the Scarlet Knights had a scoring opportunity loading the bases with one out after a Jaguar error and a pair of hits, but
Jenna Hardy was able to work out of the jam as she struck out pinch hitter Megan Herka and then induced a foul out to third by Payton Lincavage.
After issuing a leadoff single to start the sixth, Hardy retired the final six batters that she faced to earn the three-inning save.
Scoring Summary
• 2nd Inn | Stagner homered to center, 2 RBI; Ortiz scored (2-0, USA)
• 3rd Inn | Stagner singled to left center, 2 RBI; Keel scored and Ortiz scored (4-0, USA)
Postgame Notes
• Cordova extended her four-game hit streak with a two-out single in the bottom of the first; she has had at least one hit in seven of her nine games this spring
• The two-run home run by Stagner was the seventh of her career, and her sixth multi-run long ball
• Sand's two-out, third-inning triple was the first hit surrendered by Lackie in the tournament, ending a streak of 12.2 innings of hitless ball for the junior
• With her infield single to leadoff the Jaguar third, Keel has now had at least one hit in seven of South's nine games this spring
• The four-RBI performance by Stagner was the fourth of her career and her sixth career multi-RBI outing
• Stagner also now has seven multi-hit outings in her young career
• With her fourth-inning steal,
Mackenzie Brasher (37) moved into sixth place on South Alabama's career steals, passing Gwen Jones (2014-15), and moving into a tie with Christin Crocker (2009-12)
• Ortiz recorded her 31st career multi-hit game, moving her into a four-way tie with Brasher and former Jags
Kristian Foster (2015-18) and
Haleigh Lowe (2015-18) on the career list at South
• Ortiz also extended her hit streak to seven straight with her two-hit performance
• Five of South's eight hits came with two outs
Up Next
• The Jaguars will head back out on the road for a midweek contest at McNeese State on Tuesday. First pitch versus the Cowgirls is set for 3 p.m. at Cowgirl Diamond in Lake Charles, La.
FOLLOW THE JAGS
For complete coverage of South Alabama Softball, follow the Jags on social media @SouthAlabamaSB (Twitter), /SouthAlabamaSB (Facebook), @SouthAlabamaSB (Instagram) or visit the official home of South Alabama athletics at usajaguars.com.
