Jaguar Weekend Update
Softball
The #24 ranked Jags improved their record to 24-7 overall and 8-3 in the conference after the weekend sweep of Georgia State.
Saturday’s doubleheader against Georgia State to open the series was a slugfest. The Jags took both games, but not without putting up some big numbers.
In the first game, the Jags came back from a 5-1 deficit through two innings to take a 6-5 lead after the top of the fourth inning. After adding an additional run in the top of the sixth, the Pathers tied it up a 7-each in the bottom of the sixth.
But the Jaguars manufactured another run in the top of the seventh and held it in the bottom of the frame to win the first game 8-7.
Kaleigh Todd went 3-of-4 with two runs scored to lead the Jaguars at the plate. Amanda Minahan was 2-of-5 with two RBI and a run scored. Stephanie Pilkington went 2-of-4 with an RBI and three runs scored. Emily Messer went 1-of-5 with a run scored.
Game two of just a continuation of the story from game one.
USA scored two runs in the top of the first to go up 2-0 but the Panthers responded with a five-spot in the bottom half of the inning. Through two innings the Jags were facing a 7-3 deficit.
After cutting the lead by two runs in the top half of the third inning when Chloe Rathburn and Kaitlyn Griffith both hit solo homers to left field.
USA finally took the lead in the top half of the fourth inning when they put up a 5-spot of their own. Amanda Herron led off the inning with a double to right center then replaced by pinch runner Alyssa Linn. Minahan hit a double to left center field to score Linn. Pilkington then hit a homer to right field as the Jags took an 8-7 lead but were not done scoring. Rathburn walked and Blair Johnson hit a two-out two-run homer to center field to put the Jags ahead 10-7.
Georgia State answered with a three-run game-tying bottom of the fourth inning. A solo homer began the scoring then a single followed by a triple scored the second run but a throwing error allowed the Panthers to tie the game at 10-each.
The Jags fifth inning scoring began with Rathburn hitting a two-run double to score Minahan, who had reached base on a fielders choice, and Pilkington, who hit a double. Johnson then doubled up the middle to score Rathburn for a 13-10 advantage.
The Panthers would only score a solo homer in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 13-11, but Kalen McGill retired three straight to snuff out the rally attempt.
Amanda Minahan led the Jags by going 2-for-5 with three RBI and three runs scored. Stephanie Pilkington went 2-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored. Rathburn went 2-for-3 with three RBI and three runs scored. Blair Johnson went 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored.
McGill earned the win in both games. Devin Brown allowed seven runs, all earned, on five hits with two strikeouts in the opening inning. Kaleigh Floore gave up three runs, two earned, on five hits with a strikeout in three innings of relief.
Meanwhile, Johnson moved into second place in Jaguar history books with her 37th double, good for second all-time. She also moved into third place in career RBI with her 109th.
In the third and final game of the series the Jags fell behind after the first inning after the Panthers put one on the board but then hit their stride in the second frame.
Freshman righty Kalen McGill recorded her first career complete-game victory after holding GSU to three runs, all earned, on nine hits with a walk and a strikeout in seven innings. Her record improved to 10-1 after being credited with all three wins over the weekend.
Minahan led the Jags at the plate again on Sunday by going 3-of-4 with three RBI and a run scored including a solo homer in the top of the fourth. Haleigh Lowe and Amanda Herron both went 2-for-2 with three runs scored and one RBI with two walks. Kristian Foster went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI singles. Griffith added a run and Messer added an RBI in the effort.
South Alabama will travel to Arlington, Texas to face the Mavericks in a three-game series that gets underway on Friday with a doubleheader beginning at 4pm and concludes on Saturday at 1pm.
Baseball
The Jaguar baseball team took two out of three against Louisiana-Monroe over the weekend at the Warhawks.
The Jags opened the series with a 12-4 win behind Kevin Hill’s six scorless inning. he scattered 10 hits while striking out six and only issuing a walk. That extended his consecutive scoreless streak to 15 innings and earned his third win of the season.
Every Jag started earned at least one hit. Garrett DeGallier led the team by going 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Cole Billingsley went 3-fo-6 with two RBI and a run scored. Matt Bolger added two hits, two RBI and three runs scored.
The Jags clinched the series with a 9-4 win on Saturday after the Jags collected 14 hits and two three-run innings to defeat the Warhawks.
ULM jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first, but the Jags would answer in the top of the second with a run but would take the lead in the top of the fourth after Martinez hit a two-out three-run homer.
Mike Dolloff earned his third win of the season after 5 1/3 innings of relief where he allowed two runs on two hits and three walks.
Eight Jaguars recorded at least one hit in the game with Martinez leading the way with career highs in hits and RBI after going 3-for-5 with a home run, four RBI and two runs scored.
In the third game the Jags were unable to complete the sweep after falling to ULM 4-3. USA threatened in the top of the seventh after they loaded the bases but an inning-ending double play ended the threat.
USA cut the lead to one run in the top of the eighth, but were unable to tie the game.
Cole Billingsley led the team after going 3-for-5. USA’s record improved to 18-10 overall and 7-5 in conference play after the weekend.