MOBILE, Ala. | South Alabama's Ryley Harrison tossed a complete game, striking out five and not issuing a walk, as the Jaguars defeated UAB. 4-1 Thursday night in their season opener at the South Alabama Invitational presented by Marriott Mobile at Jaguar Field.

The Jags (1-0) were led at the plate by Caitlyn Gavin, who was 2-for-2 with a run scored and a RBI. Amity White also recorded a pair of hits, Presley Lively walked and scored a run, while Olivia Branstetter plated a pair.

Quotable – head coach Becky Clark
- On her thoughts on the game: "I thought it was a great team win. It's always great to win on your home field on opening day. I thought UAB played solid softball. I was really proud of Ryley and the performance she gave us going seven on her first time out. There were a couple of times in there where (UAB) had a chance to do something, but she really bared down and made some pitches; you could tell that she found another gear.

"We had a couple of mistakes on some coverage stuff that we'll figure out. I was proud of our offense, because we created some opportunities for ourselves with great base running. UAB scored the run and then we answered right back. As we go, we just have to build on that."

Sophomore RHP Ryley Harrison
- On getting the win at home: "It was such an honor to be in the circle and get the win for my team tonight. Playing in front of our home crowd is awesome."

- On her performance in the circle: "I didn't really have all my best pitches, but I was able to hammer the corners, and stay consistent and go all four quadrants. UAB was very aggressive at the plate, so I just expanded the zone."

Sophomore SS Caitlyn Gavin
- On getting the win: "We work our tails off during the preseason, and to just come out here on our home turf to get the win was a big deal for us."

How It Happened 
•    After Harrison (1-0) retired the Blazers in order, Lively drew a leadoff and with runners at the corners with one away, the freshman centerfielder came into score when Branstetter reached on a fielder's choice (USA, 1-0)
•    South Alabama threatened to do some two-out damage as Ansleigh Smith and Gavin recorded back-to-back two-out hits in the bottom of the second, but UAB's Olivia Cummings (0-1) was able to get Lively looking to work out of the jam
•    Harrison retired the first 10 batters of the game before allowing an infield single in the top of the fourth to Hannah Dorsett, but the sophomore came right back and struck out the next batter and then Dorsett was called out for leaving first early on a steal attempt
•    Gavin led off the Jaguar fifth with her second hit of the night, this one a single to right center. With one out in the frame Amity White lined a single to center and Gabby Stagner drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases. Branstetter then plated her second run of the inning with a sacrifice fly that was caught by the UAB second baseman (USA, 2-0)
•    The Blazers put runners at the corners in the top of the sixth after a pair of infield singles, and Auburn Dupree then stole second. Branblee Wortham then came home on Dorsett's RBI ground out to third after avoiding the tag at home plate (USA, 2-1)
•    In the bottom half of the inning, Stephanie Gonzalez drew a leadoff walk off of Blazer reliever, Caitlin Russell, and pinch runner Gracie Jo Ward then stole second and third to move into scoring position. Megan Davidson then walked and Sidney Lee singled through the left side of the infield to score Ward (USA, 3-1). Two batters later, Gavin drove in Davidson from third on a foul out to first (USA, 4-1).

Postgame Notes
•    The meeting marked the 17th in the all-time series and South Alabama now leads 14-3, and have won 12 of the last 13
•    South Alabama holds a 14-5 mark all-time in its 19 home openers
•    In those 18 previous season openers, USA has scored a total of 104 runs, while allowing 44 runs to the opposition for a +60-run differential
•    The Jags hold an all-time record of 21-13 at the South Alabama Invitational
•    With her walk, Gabby Stagner extended her reached base safely in 19-straight games dating back to the end of the 2024 season
•    White has had a hit in five of her last six games and reached base safely in six of her last seven
•    Lee has reached base safely in seven of her last eight with her RBI single, drawing seven walks over that stretch dating back to the end of the 2024 season
•    Gonzalez has reached base safely in seven of her last eight dating back to the end of the 2024 season
•    The multi-RBI game was the fifth of Branstetter's career
•    Gavin recorded her first multi-hit game as she made her first collegiate start  

Up Next
•    South Alabama will continue play at the South Alabama Invitational with a pair of games on Friday, taking on Murray State at 4:30 p.m. and UIC at 7 p.m.

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