MOBILE, Ala. | In what was a match up of the reigning Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year and the league's preseason pick in the circle, the two seniors didn't disappoint as Jessica Mullins tossed a one-hitter, as South Alabama fell, 1-0 in the series opener Friday night at Jaguar Field.
South Alabama (17-13-1, 3-4 SBC) starting pitcher
Olivia Lackie (12-6) allowed just one run and scattered six hits and struck out nine in the loss.
Mullins (18-3) struck out five and allowed just two base runners to lead the Bobcats (28-8, 6-1 SBC) to the series-opening win. Hannah Earls and Cierra Trahan had two hits apiece, while the latter drove in the deciding run.
Quotable – head coach Becky Clark
- On the game: "Tonight was a well-pitched game on both sides. I think everyone was expecting a pitcher's dual and that's what we got. We know the adjustments we need to make on our side and I am confident we will make them. This series is a marathon, not a sprint, so we will continue to work for every pitch and battle for the series."
How It Happened
• Earls led off the game with a single to left, but Lackie struck out the next two batters and was then able to get Sara Vanderford to pop out in foul territory behind the plate.
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Shelby Garrett walked with one out in the second after four-straight out of the zone, but Mullins retired the next two batters with a fly out and a strikeout looking.
• The Bobcats put their fourth base runner aboard with two outs, Kamden Hutton walked and then stole second to move into scoring position. Earls then reached for the third time in as many plate appearances with a walk of her own. Texas State took advantage of the two free passes as Trahan singled through the right side of the infield, scoring Hutton from second and putting Earls at third. Another walk loaded the bases, but Lackie was able to keep it a one-run game as she struck out Vanderford to end the inning.
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Mackenzie Brasher reached on an infield single – the first hit of the contest by the Jaguars – with one out in the bottom of the sixth, but Mullins didn't allow her to advance any further, retiring the next two batters.
Postgame Notes
• The meeting marked the 29th in the all-time series between the two clubs and the 11th in Mobile
• The one-run game was the 13th in the series that has been decided by two runs or less
• In a streak dating back to May 7, 2021, Brasher made her 141st consecutive start, which is tied for eighth-longest streak in program history (Brittany Fowler)
• The start for Brasher also marked the 200th of her Jaguar career
• With her strikeout of Hutton in the third inning, Lackie (804) became the second player in program history to reach the 800-strikeout mark for her career
• Brasher (198) is now two hits shy of becoming the fifth player in program history to record 200 hits in their career, where she will join Todd (231), Brittany Fowler (213, 2010-13), Emily Messer (208, 2013-16) and Blair Johnson (203, 2012-15)
• The shutout was the 11th of the spring by the Bobcats
Up Next
• South Alabama will continue the three-game league series with game two versus Texas State set for Friday. First pitch versus the Bobcats is set for 6 p.m. at Jaguar Field.
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