TUCSON, Ariz. | South Alabama recorded seven runs over a two-inning stretch, including a five-run sixth Friday afternoon to bounce back with a 7-2 victory over Ohio (4-2) on day two of the Bear Down Fiesta held at Hillenbrand Stadium.

Quotable – head coach Becky Clark
- On the team bouncing back and getting the win: "Today was a dig in kind of day coming off two tough losses last night. I was proud of our toughness and bounce back because Ohio is a good team and has been playing solid softball. Ryley (Harrison) had a quick turnaround, but gave us some solid innings. I thought she dug in and made pitches when she needed to.

"Offensively, we started out slow, but then got rolling and squared up some balls hard. We knew this tournament would be challenging, so I'm glad to see us bounce back and get in the win column."

Sophomore P Ryley Harrison
- On her mentality in the circle when the offense was unable to score: "When the offense wasn't able to produce, I just trusted what I and Coach Hannah (Campbell) worked on in the bullpen. Trusting whatever pitch I have and just making a pitch. Even if it's not the right spot, the mentality of go get the next one replays in my mind. I keep going back to the phrase, "What do I have to fear if I'm prepared". This keeps me in a calm space if I've done everything to get me here so trust what I have. Keeping the dugout up, trusting both defense and offense to make plays. When runners are on base, I trust my defense to go and make plays."

- On the importance of the team bouncing back today: "The importance of bouncing back after both losses was good for the team all around. We had some of our weaknesses exposed and coming back today allowed us to make adjustments. I can speak for myself, and probably the team, that we hate losing more than winning. For me personally, coming back after that loss was personal. A few mistakes on my end could have avoided hits, so locating my pitches better really helped. Going a complete game yesterday and today, my body was tired, but I found a little bit of energy to work with to get the job done."

South Alabama 7, Ohio 2
After leaving seven runners on over the first four innings, South Alabama's offense came alive as it was finally able to take advantage of those opportunities, scoring all seven of its runs in the fifth and sixth innings.

Ryley Harrison (3-1) tossed her fourth complete game of the season, allowing just one earned run on eight hits, while striking out a career-high six batters. Against Harrison, Ohio stranded nine runners and were 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

Presley Lively reached base in three of her five plate appearances with a double and two walks to go along with her two runs scored and RBI. Amity White was also 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored, a walk and a RBI in the win. 

How It Happened 
•    South Alabama had a scoring opportunity in its half of the first. White lined a shot right back up the middle off Ohio starter Mikie Lieving (2-1) and Gabby Stagner followed with a solid single to center to put a pair on in the opening frame. The duo then moved up a base on a wild pitch, and Olivia Branstetter walked to load the bases for the Jags. After a fielder's choice at home, the Bobcats caught a break as the ground ball to second was booted, but went right to first base for the third out.
•    Lauren Yuhas walked with one out in the next half inning, who moved into scoring position on a ground out back to the circle, but the Bobcat second baseman was left stranded as Harrison got a fly out to left to end the frame.
•    Belle Hummel reached on an infield single – the first hit by the Bobcats – with two away in the bottom of the third to extend the inning. Yuhas then snuck one through the left side of the infield to put runners at first and second, but Harrison was able to keep the game scoreless with a pop out to short in shallow left.
•    The Jaguars had another scoring opportunity with less than two outs in the top of the fourth. Megan Davidson singled to right with one out, and Katie Schuler followed with a single of her own – her first career hit. However, the Bobcats were able to get out of the inning when Davidson was called out for interference after colliding with Ohio shortstop Abby Kennelly, and then a ground out one play later.
•    In the bottom half of the inning, Brenna Farmer led things off with a single to left, and after a pair of strikeouts by Harrison, Ohio looked as if it might break through as Shelby Westler lined a double into the gap in left center, but South Alabama was able to execute a 9-6-2 relay as Davidson applied the tag to Farmer at the plate to end the inning and keep the game scoreless.
•    After the defensive play at the plate, the Jaguars were able to break through with a pair of unearned runs. Presley Lively drew a one-out walk in the top of the fifth and then stole second to move into scoring position. White then drew her second walk of the game to put a pair on for the Jags, who then took advantage of a defensive miscue by the Bobcats. Stagner bounced a ball back to the circle, but Ohio reliever Skipp Miller's toss to third in an attempt to get the lead runner went over the third baseman's head, allowing Lively and White to both score (USA, 2-0).
•    Hummel reached on a two-out, infield single in the bottom of the fifth when she barely beat the throw to first. Yuhas then kept the inning alive when she reached on a base hit on a ball that dropped in shallow right field after apparent miscommunication by the Jags. Yuhas then stole second to put a pair of runners in scoring position for Ohio, but Harrison bared down and induced a pop out to short to end the threat.
•    South Alabama opened the game up with five runs on three hits and a Bobcat error in the top of the sixth. Caitlyn Gavin and Frankie Andujo drew back-to-back walks to begin the South Alabama sixth, and Gavin then scored when Gracie Jo Ward reached on a throwing error (USA, 3-0). Lively then dropped in a RBI-double in shallow left to score Andujo (USA, 4-0). White then lined a hard-hit single back up the middle to plate two more runs (USA, 6-0), and after advancing to third on a wild pitch, the Jag left fielder came in to score the fifth run of the inning as Stagner lined a single to left (USA, 7-0).
•    Ohio broke up the shutout in the bottom of the sixth. Harrison issued back-to-back walks to begin the innings and after a ground out, Westler lifted a ball to left that was deep enough to score pinch runner Colleen Bare on the sac fly
•    Cici Keidel lined a single to left to start the bottom of the seventh, and with two outs in the inning, Emma Hoffner lined a single to center. Farmer then lined a ball to Andujo at short, who was unable to cleanly field it, allowing Keidel to score from second (USA, 7-2). Harrison though didn't allow anything else as she got Sydney Young swinging for her sixth strikeout to end the game.

Postgame Notes
•    The meeting marked the second in the all-time series between the two programs and the first since Feb. 28, 2014
•    The Jaguars are now 2-0 in the series and the two clubs will also meet on Saturday at the Bear Down Fiesta
•    White has reached base safely in six straight and seven of her eight games this spring
•    Stagner has reached base in seven of her eight games, and had a hit in four of her last five
•    The multi-hit game was the 30th of Stagner's career
•    Branstetter has reached base safely in six of her last seven
•    With her fourth-inning single, Davidson has reached base safely in seven of her eight games this spring
•    Lively has reached base safely in each of her first eight, and scored a run and walked in seven of those contests
•    Gavin has reached base if six straight and seven of her last eight, and scored a run in six of her eight games this season
•    Andujo has reached base safely in five of her six games this season

Up Next
•    South Alabama will close out play at the Bear Down Fiesta on Saturday with a pair of games. The Jaguars will take on Cal State Fullerton at 11 a.m. (CT) and then face Ohio at 1:30 p.m. (CT).

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