MOBILE, Ala. | South Alabama used big first innings in each of its games Saturday to complete the sweep on day two of the South Alabama Invitational held at Jaguar Field. 

The Jaguars (10-5) used a seven-run first inning in the opener en route to an 8-0, run-rule victory over Loyola (6-8), and then a four-run opening frame as they earned an 8-3 win over UT Martin (9-5) in the nightcap.

South Alabama head coach Becky Clark also picked up career win No. 750 with the win over UTM.

Quotable – head coach Becky Clark
- On the two wins: "I thought today was a great day all of the way around. We had solid starting pitching in both games and our offense applied pressure all day. I'm proud of our effort and execution on both sides of the ball. Tomorrow will be another test as we play a solid North Alabama team and I look forward to us keeping the momentum moving forward."

Sophomore C Ansleigh Smith
- On the strong pitching starts giving the offense momentum: "One thing we've talked about as a team is setting the tone. When one of our pitchers goes out and retires the first batter, and then gets a three-up, three-down, that gives us momentum offensively headed to the bottom of the inning."

- On the quick start offensively in both games: "Coach (Kristina) McCain has been talking to us about getting into attack mode and staying there; to not sit back and just get after it. When we're being aggressive is when we're really good offensively. We decided to come out and support out pitchers (offensively) early, and be aggressive and play as a team."

GAME ONE – South Alabama 8, Loyola-Chicago 0 (5 inn.)
Key Moments
•    South Alabama's offense took control early sending 11 batters to the plate to score seven runs on six hits
•    Gracie Dees double to center, scoring Presley Lively (walk), for the first run, and the Jag freshman then came home on Olivia Branstetter's squeeze bunt (USA, 2-0)
•    Virginia Mambelli plated the third run of the inning with a RBI single back up the middle to score Branstetter from third (USA, 3-0)
•    Back-to-back infield singles by Caitlyn Gavin and Ansleigh Smith loaded the bases later in the frame, and Edy Gavin then delivered a base-clearing double to left (USA, 6-0) 
•    The seventh and final run of the inning came on Lively's third triple of the season, this one to left center
•    Kayden Dunn extended the Jaguar lead to 8-0 in the second with a homer to center, her second of the season

Key Stats
•    Ryley Harrison (5-2) scattered five hits and struck out six, and did not allow a base runner to advance passed second
•    Lively reached base safely all three of her plate appearances with a triple and a pair of walks, while also scoring once and driving in a run
•    Mambelli was a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate with a run scored and a RBI
•    E. Gavin doubled and drove in a career-high three runs
•    Six different Jags had a hit, scored a run and drove in a run, while eight different players in the lineup crossed the plate
•    South Alabama recorded four extra-base hits
•    South Alabama was 7-for-9 with two outs and recorded five two-out RBI
•    Four of Loyola's five hits came with two outs

Postgame Notes
•    The meeting marked the first series meeting between the two clubs
•    The seven-run first marked the most runs scored in an inning by the Jags since scoring eight runs in the fourth inning against Georgia State (5/11/22)
•    The seven runs in the first are also the third-most scored in an opening frame in program history – 11 runs vs. Nicholls State (4/25/07) and 10 runs vs. Western Kentucky (3/19/11)
•    Lively has had a hit in 12 of her 14 games and reached base safely in all every game this spring 
•    Lively has walked in eight of her last 12 games
•    Lively has scored a run in seven of her last 10 games, crossing the plate 11 times over that span
•    Dees has had a hit in 11 of her last 12 games and driven in a run in seven of her last 10
•    Dunn has had a hit in seven of her last 11 games and eight of her nine hits have gone for extra bases
•    Edy Gavin has had a hit in four of her last seven games
•    Branstetter has had a hit in six of her last seven games

GAME TWO – South Alabama 8, UT Martin 3
Key Moments
•    The Jaguar offense got going early for the second-straight game, scoring four runs to take the lead
•    Lively led off bottom of first with single back up the middle, moved into scoring position on a ground out, and then came around to score on a two-base error when Branstetter's fly ball was dropped by the rightfielder (USA, 1-0)
•    Two batters later, Mambelli tripled to left scoring Branstetter and Gracie McDonald, pinch running for Dunn (USA, 3-0), who had walked
•    E. Gavin later lined a single back up the middle of UTM pitcher N. Krueziger (2-1), scoring Mambelli from third (USA, 4-0)
•    Dees added another run with a two-out, solo home run to left in the Jaguar second (USA, 5-0)
•    Ke. Brown led off the top of the third with a double to left – first hit of the game for the Skyhawks – and with runners at the corners after another single to left, UT Martin broke up the shutout with a double steal (USA, 5-1) 
•    One inning later, Avary Makarewicz led off the fourth with her third home run of the season for the Skyhawks (USA, 5-2)
•    Dees led off the Jaguar fifth with a walk, and stole second to move into scoring position, and the freshman came home on Branstetter's bouncer back up the middle (USA, 6-2)
•    Dunn blasted her second home run of the day, this one a two-run shot over the wall in center (USA, 8-2)
•    UT Martin answered back with a run as Makarewicz homered for the second time (USA, 8-3)
•    Sydney Scapin (2-2) closed out strong as she struck out the side and worked her third 1-2-3 inning of the contest

Key Stats
•    The 1-5 spots in the Jaguars lineup combined for five of the Jags' seven hits, six of the seven RBI and all eight runs
•    Dees reached base in three of her four plate appearances with a home run and a pair of walks, while scoring twice
•    Branstetter also reached base safely in two of her four plate appearances, scored twice and drove in a run
•    Dunn (home run) and Mambelli (triple) each had an extra-base hit and drove in a pair
•    Scapin went the distance striking out a career-high 11 batters, allowing four hits and just six base runners

Postgame Notes
•    The meeting marked the first series meeting between the two clubs
•    Lively extended her hit streak to seven games, setting a new career high in the category, and she has reached base safely in all 15 games this spring
•    Lively has scored a run in eight of her last 11 games, crossing the plate ??12 times over that span
•    With her triple, Mambelli extended her five-game hit streak and her streak of a hit in six-straight plate appearances 
•    McDonald has scored a run in six of her 13 appearances as a pinch runner
•    E. Gavin has had a hit in five of her last eight games
•    Dees has had a hit in 12 of her last 13 games and driven in a run in eight of her last 11
•    Dees has also scored a run in six of her last eight
•    Dunn has had a hit in eight of her last 12 games and nine of her 10 hits have gone for extra bases
•    Branstetter has had a hit in seven of her last eight games

Up Next
•    South Alabama will close out play at the South Alabama Invitational on Sunday versus North Alabama with first pitch versus the Lions set for 1:30 p.m.

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