(Photo Courtesy of South Alabama Athletics)
ORLANDO, Fla. – Save for an unconventional fifth inning, in which a two-and-a-half hour lightning delay was bookended by six runs from the opposition, No. 19 University of South Alabama softball cruised to its 10th victory of the season, defeating Lehigh, 15-9, on Saturday at the 2014 Citrus Classic, hosted by Diamond 9 Events at the ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Fla.
For the Jaguars (10-1), it was one for the books, but the most important statistic was the result.
Fifteen runs tied for the fifth-most in program history, marking the most USA has scored since hanging 16 on Southern Illinois on Feb. 18, 2012. It was also the most USA has given up since falling, 12-1, to No. 3 Alabama on Feb. 11 of the same year.
USA’s 16 total hits on Saturday ties for the third-most all-time, 14 RBI ties for fourth-most, four doubles ties for fourth-most and nine earned runs allowed ties for seventh-most. South Alabama recorded a new program single-game record for stolen bases after successfully stealing all seven versus the Mountain Hawks.
Blair Johnson’s four hits ties a single-game school record. The junior went 4-for-4 on the day with four RBI and two runs scored to lead USA, which outhit Lehigh, 16-10. Five Jaguars recorded multiple hits on Saturday, including Amanda Minahan (3-for-5), Stephanie Pilkington (2-for-4), Kaitlyn Griffith (2-for-4) and Taylor Rodgers (2-for-3).
Holly McKinnon picked up her second career win in as many appearances for USA, despite giving up all nine runs (earned). She gave up eight hits, struck out three and walked two in 4 2/3 innings. Kaleigh Floore walked one batter in relief before being replaced by Hannah Campbell, who earned her second save of the season after striking out four to two walks in 2 1/3 relief innings.
USA’s evening contest with Mercer was canceled due to inclement weather in the Orlando area.
The Jags went up 4-0 in the opening frame, beginning with Johnson’s RBI single that scored Pilkington, who drew a leadoff walk. Rathburn then reached on a throwing error by Lehigh’s second baseman, which allowed Johnson to round home for a 2-0 USA lead.
Amanda Herron lifted a sacrifice fly to right center that scored Griffith, who previously singled. Rodgers then supplied the first of her two RBI with a single that brought Rathburn around.
The Jaguars went up 6-0 in the bottom of the second after Messer scored on Minahan’s single, and the latter was plated on Johnson’s subsequent double to deep center field.
Lehigh cut the lead in half in the top of the third after two Mountain Hawk runners got on and were brought home via a fielder’s choice and groundout.
USA extended its lead to 11-3 with a four-run fourth inning. Minahan led off the frame with a single to right and quickly touched home when Johnson tripled to left center. Griffith then sent Johnson home with a double off the center field wall to make it 8-3.
Rathburn followed with an RBI double to score Griffith, and Gwen Jones allowed Rathburn to score when she grounded out to second.
McKinnon allowed six Lehigh hits in the top of the fifth, including three straight one-out singles and two two-RBI doubles for four runs before Floore was inserted, which took place after the game was delayed for over two hours due to lightning in the area.
The first batter Floore faced sent a two-RBI double over the head of a retreating Pilkington in deep center to draw the scoreline to 11-6. After next issuing a walk, Campbell entered the circle and ended the inning with the first of her four strikeouts on the day.
South Alabama added two runs to its total in the bottom of the fifth beginning with Pilkington’s score on a wild Lehigh pitch. Johnson then delivered an RBI single up the middle to plate Minahan, who previously singled.
The Jaguars put up two more scores in the bottom of the sixth on Pilkington’s two-RBI double to left center, which scored Messer, who singled, and Breeden, who reached on a fielder’s choice.
