(Photo Courtesy of South Alabama Athletics)
ORLANDO, Fla. – No. 19 University of South Alabama softball opened the 2014 Citrus Classic, hosted by Diamond 9 Events at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Fla., with wins over Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne and East Carolina, moving to 9-1 on the year.
USA (9-1) defeated its opponents by a combined score of 14-1 on Friday, downing IPFW, 8-0, in six innings before cruising past East Carolina, 6-1, in the nightcap.
Blair Johnson was 4-for-6 at the plate on Friday to lead the Jaguars, followed by Amanda Herron (2-for-3), Kaitlyn Griffith (3-for-6), Stephanie Pilkington (3-for-7) and Taylor Rodgers (2-for-5). Herron recorded three RBI and a home run, all her first in a Jaguar uniform. She boasted an on-base percentage of .833 on the day.
Hannah Campbell and Farish Beard each recorded wins on Friday, the former registering a complete-game shutout of IPFW with six strikeouts and no walks allowed. Beard was named Evoshield Player of the Game after she struck out nine Pirate batters and allowed only one run (earned) and walk apiece.
Campbell moved into a tie with former USA standout pitcher Beth Pilgrim for the most complete games in Jaguar history, no with 77 total, and moved to third overall in the same category with 21.
USA continues play at the Citrus Classic on Saturday with contests versus Lehigh (11 a.m. ET) and Mercer (3:30 p.m. ET).
“I thought this was a great start to the tournament,” said USA head coach Becky Clark. “I thought we put together two really good games. We’ve been talking to our hitters about staying balanced and not trying to do too much. We created a lot of opportunities for ourselves by doing that. We know that when Hannah or Farish are on the mound, of we can get a couple of runs, we’ve got a good shot. I thought they punded the strike zone today. Between our pitcher, catcher and defense, I thought we did a great job.”
USA 8, IPFW 0 (6 inn.)
Four Jaguars recorded multiple hits versus IPFW, as USA outhit the Mastadons, 11-2, South Alabama starter Campbell not allowing a hit until the final inning of the contest, which ended early by way of run-rule, marking the Mobile club’s fourth win in 10 games to end in mercy-rule fashion.
Eleven hits marked a season-high for the Jaguars, as did three steals.
Campbell recorded half her six total strikeouts versus IPFW in the top of the first, and USA built a 4-0 lead in the bottom half on four hits and two Mastadon errors. Pilkington led off with a double to left center, and Rodgers followed with a single. Griffith drove the two runners in with a double down the left field line to put USA up 2-0.
Chloe Rathburn subsequently drew a walk, and when she broke for second on a steal attempt, IPFW’s shortstop impeded her catcher’s throw to second, Griffith allowed to score in the ensuing scramble. Later in the inning, Messer reached on an IPFW fielding error that allowed Breeden, who previously singled, to round home and put USA up 4-0.
South Alabama added a run to in the bottom of the third when Gwen Jones rounded home on another Messer reach by way of error. Jones was pinch-running for Amanda Herron, who reached on a fielder’s choice.
Herron recorded two RBI in the bottom of the fifth to put USA ahead, 7-0, when she singled to score Griffith, who led off the frame with a triple off the center field wall, and Rathburn, who was hit by a pitch.
Johnson drove in USA’s eighth and final run, enacting the mercy rule, with her single to left field that scored Pilkington, who led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a single.
Starter Miranda Kramer fell to 5-2 with the loss after giving up four runs (two earned), walking two and striking out one in 1 1/3 innings pitched. Megan Flenniken also gave up four runs (three) in 3 2/3 innings of relief. Sarah Lazarowich gave up one hit in 1/3 of an inning.
Campbell moved to 3-0 on the year with the win.
USA 6, East Carolina 1
South Alabama scored in all but one inning in which it batted against the Pirates.
USA went up 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning when Breeden drew a two-out, bases-loaded walk to send Johnson home. ECU pitcher Gabby Andino struck out two Jaguars to start the bottom half of the inning before walking three straight, all leading to the game’s first run.
ECU’s Alex Fieldhouse evened the score to lead off the second inning when she belted a solo homer to left center, issuing starter Beard her first earned run of the year.
USA made it 3-1 in the bottom of the second, the first of the two runs coming by way of Gwen Jones’s steal home after Messer coaxed a throw to second from on a steal from first. Messer was later brought home by Johnson’s sacrifice fly.
Messer then returned the favor by delivering a sacrifice fly that scored Breeden in the bottom of the third.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Jaguars went up 5-1 on Rathburn’s RBI single to right field, which plated Johnson, who, before, registered her second base hit of the contest. Herron’s homer, a solo blast to left center in the bottom of the fifth, brought the final score to 6-1.
Beard moved to 5-1 on the year with the win. ECU’s Andino suffered her first loss.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
