AUBURN, Ala. | South Alabama scored three runs in the top of the first, but Auburn answered back with five in the second and went on to take the 6-3 victory Wednesday night at the Jane B. Moore Field.

Quotable – head coach Becky Clark
- On the loss: "I thought we had our chances in this game and just didn't get it done. We jumped out to an early lead and then just didn't do the things you need to put away a good team. At some point, we have to get tired of giving away opportunities we're giving ourselves."

Key Moments
•    South Alabama jumped out to a quick three-run lead as Gracie Dees bounced a RBI-single back up the middle (USA, 1-0), scoring Presley Lively from second who had drawn a leadoff walk to begin the game and moved into scoring position on a passed ball
•    Virginia Mambelli then drove a 1-1 pitch over the wall in right to extend the Jaguar lead (USA, 3-0), her fourth home run of the spring
•    The Jags had a chance to add to their lead their next time up as Sydney Stewart singled back up the middle and Ansleigh Smith reached on an Auburn error while attempting to sacrifice the runner, but with runners at the corners, Ella Harrison (10-4) was able to get a double play and then a ground out to third to end the threat
•    Auburn loaded the bases without the benefit of a hit to start the bottom of the second after a hit batter and a pair of walks, and Alyssa Hastings then delivered the first hit of the game for the Tigers with a two-run single to left (USA, 3-2)
•    After a strikeout, Kylie Shaw walked for the second time in as many plate appearances to load the bases for the second time in the inning, Alyssa Hastings then dropped in a two-run single in shallow right center to score two more (AU, 4-3)
•    With two outs, AnnaLea Adams lined a single to center, allowing Hastings to score from second (AU, 5-3)
•    South had opportunities in the fifth and sixth innings, bringing the tying run to the plate and placing runners in scoring position, but could not capitalize
•    Auburn took advantage of the missed opportunities and added an insurance run in its half of the sixth as Hastings reached on a fielding error with two outs, allowing Shaw to score from third (AU, 6-3)
•    The Jaguars tried to mount a late rally as Stewart led off the seventh with a walk, but Harrison struck out the side to end the game

Key Stats
•    Mambelli was 2-for-3 with a double, a home run and two RBI
•    Dees was 2-for-3 with a run scored and a RBI in the loss
•    R. Harrison tossed three innings of relief, allowing an unearned run on three hits with two strikeouts
•    After getting hits in its first two opportunities with runners on and runners in scoring position, South Alabama finished the game 2-for-13 with runners on and 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position
•    Shaw reached base three times with a pair of walks and a hit, while scoring twice for the Tigers
•    Hastings and Ratliff both drove in two runs as well
•    E. Harrison went the distance for Auburn striking out 10 in her seven innings of work

Postgame Notes
•    With her leadoff walk, Lively has reached base safely in 10 of her last 12 games
•    Dees has had a hit in 12 of her last 17 – including six of her last nine – and has recorded at least one hit in 25 of last her last 33 games
•    With her two hits, Dees now has a team-leading seven multi-hit games 
•    Dees now has 12 doubles this season, which is tied for third-most (Olivia Branstetter, 2024) by a freshman at South Alabama
•    Virginia Mambelli has reached base safely in 12 of her last 14, including 11 games with a hit, and driven in a run in nine of her last 14
•    Mambelli has 15 games with both a hit and a RBI this spring
•    Mambelli now has five multi-hit and four multi-RBI games this season

Up Next
•    South Alabama will continue on the road with a weekend Sun Belt Conference series at James Madison. First pitch of the series opener is set for 3 p.m. (CT) on Friday at Bank of the James Field at Veterans Memorial Park.

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