Kaitlyn Griffith Name SBC Player of the Week
Griffith, a senior from Centre, AL, earned SBC Player of the Week honors after batting .467 with nine RBI, four runs scored and two home runs. She also tied a school game record with six RBI against Ball State with two home runs. | Photo: usajaguars.com
Senior Kaitlyn Griffith of the #22 ranked South Alabama softball team was named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week on Monday. She helped lead the Jaguars to four wins in five games by tallying nine RBI and a .933 slugging percentage.
She batted .467 (7-for-15) in those five games last week with nine RBI, four runs scored, two home runs and a sacrifice fly. She also tied two Jaguar game records in their 14-6 win over 2014 Mid-American Conference Champion Ball State when she has two home runs and a career high six RBI. Griffith’s six RBI in the game was the most since former Jaguar standout Britany Campbell drove in six run against Southeast Louisiana on March 7, 2012.
Griffith also drew a key two-out walk against Nicholls State to load the bases for South Alabama’s go-ahead run.
Through 14 games she has 14 RBI this season and has moved into a tie for fifth in career home runs.
Griffith is the Jaguars second student-athlete to earn weekly conference honors in three voting periods so far this season. Freshman Devin Brown was selected as the SBC Pitcher of the Week on February 9, the first voting period of the season.
South Alabama will host Samford on Wednesday at Jaguar Field with first pitch scheduled for 5pm.
Jaguar Men’s Golf hold One-Shot Lead Going Into Final Round of Mobile Sports Authority Intercollegiate
Photo: Mike Kittrell al.com
The South Alabama men’s golf team improved by 16-strokes from their first-round total to take a one-shot lead heading into the final day of the Mobile Sports Authority Intercollegiate.
Daniel Jansen, Michael Garretson and Tyler Klava each shot 70 or better over the second 18 holes on Monday with Matt Sheehan and Ally Purdy both shooting a 74 as the jags posted a 5-under-par 283 in the second round.
The Jags are one shot ahead of 22nd ranked Auburn and Ole Miss with the three schools scheduled to play together in Tuesday’s final round at Magnolia Grove Crossings Golf Course. They will begin at 10am with a shotgun start, two hours later than originally scheduled.
Team Scores:
1) South Alabama 299-283—582 (+6);
T2) Auburn 291-292—583;
T2) Mississippi 292-291—583;
4) Memphis 302-285—587;
5) Louisiana Tech 294-294—588;
6) Michigan State 302-288—590;
7) Middle Tennessee 300-296—596;
8) Texas State 303-294—597;
T9) Davidson 307-298—605;
T9) Southern Mississippi 302-303—605;
T11) Mississippi State 309-298—607;
T11) Kentucky 309-298—607;
13) Western Kentucky 318-294—612;
14) Belmont 311-303—614;
15) Illinois State 321-302—623.
Individual Leaders:
1) Tyler Saunders, TXST 72-66—138 (-6);
2) Matt Gilchrest, Aub 74-67—141;
3) Blake Morris, Miss 73-69—142;
T4) Ben Robinson, Tech 71-72—143;
T4) Thomas Perrot, Mem 74-69—143;
T6) Daniel Jansen, USA 75-69—144;
T6) Mitch Rutledge, Mich St 76-68—144;
T6) Ashton Van Horne, BU 74-70—144;
T9) five individuals with 145.
South Alabama Scores:
T6) Daniel Jansen 75-69—144 (E);
T9) Michael Garretson 75-70—145;
T9) Tyler Klava 75-70—145;
T34) Matt Sheehan 74-77—151;
T40) Ally Purdy 78-74—152.
South Alabama Sports – Weekend Update
Baseball
The South Alabama baseball team had a tough weekend in their round-robin tournament by going 0-3 in their three games played.
Friday night USA lost to Maryland 0-8, then to Arkansas Saturday night 0-7 and then to Central Florida 5-7 on Sunday to end the weekend. They will look to get back in the win column on Tuesday in Montgomery against Alabama State.
Softball
The Jaguar softball team finished the weekend 3-1 in four games in the South Alabama Invitational at Jaguar Field.
Tennessee-Chattanooga defeated USA on Friday night 1-3 on left hander Cori Jennings’ who allowed seven hits and four walks. The Jags jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning but left five runners stranded through the final three innings.
The Mocs took control of the game in the top of the fourth inning on Criket Blanco’s two-run shot after a one-out walk put Nicole Osterman on base. In the top of the sixth, Osterman his a solo homer for an insurance run.
Devin Brown took the loss after allowing three runs, all earned, on three hits. She struck out nine with a season-high-tying five walks in 5 1/3 innings. Kalen McGill pitched 1 2/3 innings of relief with one strikeout and one hit.
Emily Messer drew a walk to get on base in the bottom of the first. She advanced to second on an illegal pitch. Chloe Rathburn then singled to drive in Messer.
The Jags threatened in the fifth after Messer drew a one-out walk followed by Amanada Minahan’s single, but a pair of groundouts ended the threat.
On Saturday, the Jags earned run-rule victories in both games they played. USA defeated Ball State 14-6 after a six-run sixth inning.
In the nightcap, the Jags defeated Sam Houston State 8-0 in five innings.
Stephanie Pilkington went 4-of-6 on Saturday with three RBI and three runs scored. Kaitlyn Griffith tied USA records against Ball State after going 3-for-3 with six RBI, three runs scored and a pair of home runs. She added a seventh RBI on the day in the nightcap.
Sophomore Amanda Minahan was 3-of-6 on the day with three runs scored. Amanda Herron had four RBI while Blair Johnson scored three runs.
Freshmen Kalen McGill (4-0) and Devin Brown (5-2) earned the wins on Saturday against the Cardinals and the Bearkats respectively.
On Sunday, USA finished off the weekend tournament with a 5-4 walkoff win against Jacksonville University.
Senior Alyssa Linn lead off the bottom of the ninth inning with a single. She advanced to second on a fielding error. Lowe singled through the left side to score Linn from second base to win the game.
McGill earned the win from the pitchers circle. Pilkington added to her weekend numbers by going 2-of-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Rathburn went 2-of-4 with an RBI and Messer was 1-of-5 with a run scored.
South Alabama (11-3) will face Samford University on Wednesday before departing for Columbia, SC for the 2015 Carolina Classic where the Jags will face Charleston Southern, Tennessee State, Marshall and South Carolina over the weekend.
Men’s Basketball
The Jags could not hold off a late run by Georgia Southern in Stateboro and lost 74-80. A 10-0 run late in the second half turned the game around for the Eagles as they improve to 19-6 overall and 12-4 in SBC play.
South Alabama falls to 9-19 overall and 7-10 in SBC play. The Jags currently are in a tie for sixth place in the conference with Arkansas-Little Rock with Appalachian State one game behind them at 6-10 in SBC play.
Only the top eight teams will participate in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament starting March 12 in New Orleans, LA.
USA has only three more regular season games remaining starting by hosting Louisiana-Monroe on Thursday at the Mitchell Center. ULM is in a three-way tie for first in the conference with a 12-4 record in SBC play.
South Alabama Sports Weekend Preview
Preview of weekend sports for South Alabama athletics. There are plenty of games happening this weekend on campus. Come out and cheer on the Jaguars.
Men’s Basketball
With just four games left in the regular season the Jaguars are sitting in sixth place in the conference standings, which is key as only the top eight are invited to participate in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in New Orleans.
South Alabama (9-18, 7-9 SBC), coming off a 79-51 loss to Georgia State, will face the top two teams and the bottom two teams in the conference standing to finish out the regular season over these next four games. The first opponent is second-place Georgia Southern (18-6, 11-4 SBC) in Stateboro, GA. on Saturday.
Softball
The #22 ranked South Alabama softball team, fresh off of their seventh consecutive win at Nicholls State on Wednesday, will host the 2015 South Alabama Invitational at Jaguar Field this weekend.
The Jags (8-2) will host Chattanooga, Ball State, Sam Houston State and Jacksonville for the weekend. They will face UT-Chatanooga on Friday at 6pm. On Saturday they will face Ball State at 1:30pm then Sam Houston State at 6pm. Then finish out the weekend slate against Jacksonville University at 1:30 on Sunday.
Baseball
The Jags baseball, who are undefeated through their first four games of the season after defeating Auburn 7-4 on Tuesday, will host three top-25 teams over the weekend at Eddie Stanky Field.
The round-robin format tournament will have the Jags, #13 Maryland, #16 Arkansas and #22 Central Florida all play three games in three days.
Arkansas and UCF will start at 2pm on Friday, followed by Maryland and South Alabama at 6:30pm.
On Saturday Maryland will face UCF at 2pm followed by USA and Arkansas at 6:30pm. Maryland and Arkansas will play at 10am on Sunday with USA and UCF starting at 2pm.
Jaguar Baseball Defeats Auburn 7-4
Junior Austin Bembnowski threw eight scoreless innings in relief to lead the Jaguar baseball team a 7-4 win over Auburn at Eddie Stanky Field Tuesday night and to a 4-0 record so far this season. He retired 13 of the first 14 Tigers he faced, and allowed only three hits and two walks while striking out six.
Auburn lept out to a three run lead in the top of the first inning as Jaguar starter Jared Gates walked the first two batters of the game. Both baserunners moved up one base on a sacrifice bunt by Jordon Ebert. Then Bo Decker hit a two-run double down the left field line to go up 2-0. Cody Nulph hit an RBI single through the right side of the infield to plate Decker for the 3-0 advantage.
In the bottom of the first, the Jaguar loaded the bases with one out after a single by Garrett DeGallier. Cole Gleason reached base after being hit by a pitch, then Daniel Martinez got on base on an error by the Tiger center fielder. Jared Barnes’ sacrifice fly to center field would score the only Jaguar run of the inning to make the score 3-1 through one inning.
Auburn would answer with a run in the top of the second after Kyler Deese led off the inning with a walk. He would later score on a wild pitch by Bembnowski to make the score 4-1.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Jaguars finally answered with a pair of runs after Barnes and Connor Hawthorne reached on consecutive leadoff singles. Ryan Raspino would advance the runners on a groundout to third. Then Adam Ballew hit a two-run single to left field to cut the Tiger lead down to 4-3.
South Alabama would then add four more runs over the next two inning as they went on to win.
Barnes went 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored to lead the Jaguars offensive attack. Ballew also finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored. COllura had two hits with an RBI and a run scored. Rapino also had two hits and a run scored.
Auburn righty Keegan Thompson (1-1) allowed six runs on eight hits and a walk through 5 1/3 innings to take the loss. Bembnowski (1-0) earned the win.
“It was tough falling behind early like that,” head coach Mark Calvi said. “But our guys kept fighting and we put some good at-bats together. They kept playing hard and we got back into it. We had one strikeout tonight, which was outstanding. We made them (Auburn) work for everything, and made them field every ball.
“Bembnowski was really good; he settled the game down for us. I didn’t plan to use him that long. It was going to be a long-relief role but he kept going out there and getting back in on offense. He’s an extremely strong kid, and he was ready to go out there and compete.”
South Alabama (4-0) will return to action this weekend they host Arkansas, #13 Maryland and Central Florida at Eddie Stanky Field as part of a round-robin tournament. The Jags will open the weekend tournament against #13 Maryland on Friday at 6:30pm.
USA Sports go 8-1 In Weekend Games
South Alabama had a successful weekend slate of home games this past weekend by going 8-1 in all four sports played on campus this weekend.
Men’s Basketball
The Jaguar men’s basketball team used a fast start to hold on against Texas-Arlington 97-91. USA held a 20-point lead at halftime but the Mavericks outscored the Jags 62-48 in the second half, as the Jags committed 14 of their 20 turnovers in the second half, but were unable to overcome the deficit.
The Jags improve their overall record to 9-17 and their conference record to 7-8. Texas-Arlington fell to 14-10 overall and 8-6 in conference play.
Sophomore Ken Williams led all scorers with a career-high 29 points with a personal best eight rebounds. He connected on six of 10 three-point attempts, five of them made in the first half. He was also 9-of-11 from the free-throw line.
They travel to Georgia State on Thursday to take on the Panthers for a 6pm tip.
Softball
The #24 ranked Lady Jaguars completed a four-game sweep of the Mardi Gras Invitational.
The weekend began on Friday with a 5-4 win over Oklahoma State. The game was decided in the bottom of the seventh when Stephanie Pilkington drew a bases-loaded walk to end the game.
On Saturday, the Jags scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the first and third innings then were able to cruise to the 4-1 win over Lipscomb. Freshman Kalen McGill earned her second win of the season (2-0) where the recorded three strikeouts an no walks. She only allowed a single earned run on four hits with her ERA holding at 0.51.
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Jags Defeat Troy on the road 71-67
South Alabama, led by Georgi Boyanov who earned his third double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds along with four other Jaguars who scored in double-digits, defeated Troy on the road 71-67. Also spoiling the Trojan Athletic Director’s promise of a steak dinner to the team if they defeated the Jaguars.
The win ended a three-game losing streak for the Jaguars and improved their record to 8-17 overall and 6-8 in Sun Belt Conference play. Meanwhile the Trojans fell to 9-14 overall and 4-10 in the conference.
Boyanov recorded 12 points and six rebounds after halftime. He also had a steal with 13 seconds left to help close the door on the Trojans. Sophomore Taishaun Johnson shared game-high honors with 17 points. Dionte Ferguson added 14 points and seven rebounds and sophomore Ken Williams added 13 points an a career-high six assists.
The Trojans took a three point lead around midway through the second half on an 8-0 run, but the Jaguars answered right back with a 10-1 run of their own. Johnson started it with a layup to start the run, then hit back-to-back 3-pointers with 8:01 left in the game to put the Jaguars up 56-50.
But the Trojan would not go away, they scored the next four points to cut the Jaguar lead down to two points, but again the Jaguars would answer by scoring eight of the next 10 points while holding Troy to one field goal over the next six minute stretch.
The closest the Trojans would get in the last five-and-a-half minutes would be four points.
The Jags clamped down in the second half defensively, after the Trojans converted 60% of their 3-point shots in the first half, the Jags held them to 33.3% in the second half.
“There’s no question we needed this win to get back on track and get refocused,” head coach Matthew Graves said. “Anytime you can win a game on the road in league play, it’s a great thing. I thought our guys continued to battle throughout the game. It was a very well-played game, both teams made some runs and neither team really jumped out to a big lead. We were very fortunate that we made a lot of the right plays at the end of the game and came out with the victory.”
“You have to give credit to our players and to Coach (Darnell) Archey,” Graves continued. “He did an outstanding job with the scouting report and the defensive scheme, calling out their actions. Our players did an excellent job of following through with that. We had three days to prepare for them; when we have three days to prepare for somebody and our guys stay locked in and focused, that’s a recipe for success. Our scouting and preparation were top-notch this week.”
All five of Troy’s starters scored in double-digits with Kelton Ford sharing the game-high mark with 17 points and Wesley Person adding 14.
South Alabama will host Texas-Arlington at home on Saturday with a 4:05pm tipoff.
Freshman Devin Brown earns Conference Pitcher of the Week honors
Freshman pitcher Devin Brown earned her first collegiate win in a one-hit shutout in her first appearance and earned her first save, both during the 2015 Sand Dollar Classic. | Photo: usajaguars.com
South Alabama softball freshman pitcher Devin Brown was named the Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Week on Monday. This was the season’s first voting period.
During the Sand Dollar Classic in Gulf Shores, Brown went 2-1 with 29 strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings. She recorded a one-hit shutout in her first collegiate start on Friday against Liberty as the Jags won 8-0 by the run-rule.
She has a 0.43 ERA to lead the team after allowed just three runs, and only one of them earned, on eight hits and five walks. She held opposing batters to a .143 batting average. She earned her first career save against McNeese State as she struck out both batters she faced to finish off a 5-1 Jaguar victory after coming in in the bottom of the seventh with the bases loaded.
Additionally, she struck out 11 against Houston on Sunday while only allowing one earned run as the Jaguars snatched the 3-2 win in the bottom of the seventh after coming-from-behind.
Minahan’s Walk-off, two-run double closes out 2015 Sand Dollar Classic
The South Alabama Softball team went 2-1 over the weekend at the Sand Dollar Classic in Gulf Shores to improve their overall record to 3-2 in their opening weekend of of the season.
On Friday, the Jaguars started freshman right-hander Devin Brown in the circle for her first collegiate start. She pitched a one-hit shutout against Liberty for her first collegiate win.
Junior outfielder Stephanie Pilkington and sophomore Chloe Rathburn each went 2-for-3 with three RBI to help lead the Jaguar offensive attack. Freshman second baseman Kaleigh Todd and senior outfielder Alyssa Linn accounted for a pair of runs each. Senior Amanda Herron, Junior Emily Messer and freshman Haleigh Lowe each scored runs as the Jaguars had 10 hits in the 8-0 win.
On Saturday the Jags split a pair of games starting with a 0-1 loss to Eastern Kentucky. USA left nine runners on agaisnt the Colonels, but Devin Brown’s wild pitch in the fifth inning scored the decisive run.
In the nightcap, the Jags rebounded from their loss earlier in the day to defeat McNeese State 5-1. The Jags outhit the Cowgirls 7-5.
USA used four pitchers to hold the Cowgirls to only one run with senior Farish Beard starting then relievers Kaleigh Floore, Kalen McGill and Devin Brown each filling in. Brown, who started her first game on Friday, picked up her first career save.
Kaitlyn Griffith led the Jags by going 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored. Sophomore Amanda Minahan also went 2-for-3 and scored a pair of runs.
On Sunday, the Jags were down 0-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning to Houston when the Jags dug in and began their comeback.
USA hit three singles to load the bases. Kaleigh Todd would cut the deficit in half with an RBI groundout.
But it was sophomore Amanda Minahan that gave the Jaguars the heroics they needed. With two out and two on base, she delivered a clutch two-run walk-off double to left field giving the Jaguars the 3-2 win in the final contest of the 2015 Sand Dollar Classic.
Devin Brown struck out 11 and allowed only one earned run on six hits while walking three to improve her record to 2-1.
Senior Kaitlyn Griffith sparked the comeback with a leadoff single through the left side. Senior Alex Breeden followed with a single to right field. Then Amanda Herron singled through the left side to load the bags with Jags.
None of the players had recorded a hit in the game until that point, including Minahan.
The Jags will host the 2015 Mardi Gras Invitational where they will face Oklahoma State on Friday, February 13 at Jaguar Field. They will then face Lipscomb and Butler on Saturday and close out the weekend with University of Evansville.
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.