MOBILE, Ala. | The South Alabama softball team rode a dominant effort in the circle by
Olivia Lackie and
Abby Allen's two-run home run in the fourth inning was all the junior needed as the Jags picked up a 2-0 victory on the final day of the South Alabama Invitational presented by Marriott Mobile at Jaguar Field.
Lackie tossed her 21st complete-game shutout and went the distance for the 37th time in her career as she allowed just four base runners – three hits and a walk – while striking out a season-high 14 batters.
South Alabama improved to 9-6 with the win, while Louisiana Tech falls to 9-5 on the spring.Â
South Alabama Invitational All-Tournament Team
Presented by Marriott Mobile
Kiersten Landers, Mississippi State
Paige Cook, Mississippi State
Aquana Brownlee, Mississippi State
Chloe Malau'ulu, Mississippi State
Josey Marron, Mississippi State
Aspen Wesley, Mississippi State
Abby Allen, South Alabama
Sasha Willems, South Alabama
Jenna Hardy, South Alabama
Olivia Lackie, South Alabama
Kiley Perry, Furman
Riley Ludlam, Furman
Brooke Diaz, Louisiana Tech
Caroline Eason, Louisiana Tech
Haley Morgan, Tulsa
Kailyn Bearpaw, Tulsa
Quotable – head coach Becky Clark
- On Sunday's win: "It was good to see Liv (
Olivia Lackie) go seven today and get the swing and misses she was getting. Offensively, we squared a lot of balls up that were right at people.
Abby Allen's two-run home run proved to be enough and it's great to see her get going. Overall, I'm happy with the steps we're taking forward. We still have room for growth, but they are working and competing, and that's what you want to see right now."
Junior P Olivia Lackie
- On her performance in the circle: "My curve and my rise ball were working really well for me today. I just got out there and did what I do best, and knew that my team would be behind me and help me out."
Junior DP Abby Allen
- On her getting the big hit that proved to be the difference: "First off, we just do everything we can as hitters to back out pitchers up. They do a great job on the mound, so we do everything we can to score for them. I just went to the plate with a calm approach and was looking for a pitch that I could put a good barrel on and work from there. Whatever happens from there happens."
South Alabama 2, Louisiana Tech 0
Louisiana Tech threatened to get on the scoreboard in the top half of the third. Jordyn Manning singled to right and after being sacrificed up a base, Sierra Sacco walked to put a pair on for the Lady Techsters, but Lackie worked out of the jam as she got Carol Easom looking – her seventh strikeout of the game – and then fielded a come backer and threw on to first for the third out of the inning.
In the bottom half of the inning, it was South Alabama's turn to threaten.
Bailey Welch singled back up the middle to lead things off and after being moved into scoring position, pinch hitter
Shelby Garrett drew a nine-pitch walk after fouling off three two-strike pitches. Like her counterpart, Louisiana Tech's Allie Floyd kept things scoreless as she was able to get a ground out to third and a line out to first to end the frame.
South Alabama broke through its next time up as
Abby Allen blasted a one-out, two-run home run on a 3-0 offering deep over the wall in left to give the Jags a 2-0 lead.
Amanda Gonzalez dropped in a single in left center to start the seventh, but Lackie didn't allow her to advance as she was able to get Kate Cooper to foul out to Willems, and then retire the final two batters with her 13th and 14th strikeouts of the game with the final one on a called third strike to Manning.
Scoring Summary
•   4th Inn |
Abby Allen homered to left field, 2 RBI; Sasha Willems scored (2-0, USA)
Postgame Notes
•   Willems extended her six-game hit streak with her fourth-inning single, and she has now had at least one hit in seven of her last eightÂ
•   Sims extended her reached base safely streak to seven with her fifth-inning single
•   Allen recorded her ninth-career home run and has now homered in back-to-back games, both on 3-0 pitches
•   The last Jag to hit home runs in consecutive outings was
Kamdyn Kvistad, who did so last spring against Georgia Southern
•   Lackie struck out the side in each of the first two innings – three for the game – and finished with 14 strikeouts on the afternoon
•   The junior right hander also had two or more strikeouts in the first, second, fourth and sixth innings
•   Of her 14 strikeouts, eight came after getting ahead 0-2 in the count
•   The game marked the 17th double-digit strikeout game of Lackie's career and her third of the season
•   The 17 double-digit strikeout games are only four behind Farish Beard (2012-15), who is in second in the category
•   The shutout was the fifth of the season by the Jaguar pitching staff
Up Next
•   South Alabama will head back out on the road next weekend as it will participate in the Jane B. Moore Memorial Tournament hosted by Auburn at Jane B. Moore Field. The Jags will open tournament play on Friday with a pair of games – Tennessee Tech at 12:30 p.m. and Auburn at 5:30 p.m.
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.
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