Alabama Rallies in Seventh Inning to Defeat Jags 2-1
#23 South Alabama held a 1-0 lead entering the seventh inning but a Jaguar fielding error allowed two runs to score and spoiling South Alabama’s season opener at home with a 2-1 loss to #3 ranked Alabama.
Kaleigh Todd drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the third inning then stole second base. Sophomore Chloe Rathburn then put the Jaguars ahead with a two-out RBI single up the middle to score Todd.
Senior Farish Beard allowed only one hit through 6 1/3 innings before the Tide’s Demi Turner reached base on a bunt and eventually stealing second base. Then All-American Haylie McCleney drew a walk to set up Chandler Dare’s two-run hit. The loss was only Beard’s 10th of her career.
Alabama starter Leslie Jury went 5 1/3 innings allowing one earned run on four hits with five strikeouts and three walks. Alexis Osorio, a freshman, came in as relief to earn the win after striking out four of the seven Jaguars she faced.
Beard only allowed three hits while striking out six with a pair of walks and one earned run.
“That was a great game, and it was great for the fans,” said head coach Becky Clark. “You want to see your kids battle, and that’s what they did, they’re competitors, but, at the same time, we’ve got to execute. That’s a game that we easily could’ve won if we had executed. I think they know that.
“This game doesn’t make or break our season,” Clark added. “We’re just getting started. Early on, as a head coach, it makes you feel good about things to see your kids battle like that against a good program. We left the bases loaded, and we left runners in scoring position, so we’ve just got to execute.”
Alabama runs their record to 11-0 over the Jaguars all-time.
Both the Jags and Alabama will return to action this weekend in Gulf Shores for the Sand Dollar Classic. USA will face Liberty on Friday at 6pm, Eastern Kentucky and McNeese State on Saturday at 3pm and 6pm respectively, and Houston on Sunday at 1pm.