Jags Softball Earns 9-1 Run Rule Victory over Southern Miss
The Jaguar softball team defeated Southern Miss 9-1 in six innings on Wednesday evening in a run-rule victory. The Jags nine runs came on 12 hits and three errors by the Golden Eagles in the two teams’ first meeting since 2012.
The Jags (18-6, 2-3 SBC) Farish Beard recorded her second win in only her second appearance since February 7 as she struck out six to only one walk and allowed only one run (earned) on two Southern Miss hits. In her last 13 innings Beard has struck out 18 batters and only allowed two runs. The win was her 54th of her career, which stands as second most in Jaguar program history.
Eight of the nine starters for South Alabama recorded a hit with Emily Messer, Amanda Minahan and Chloe Rathburn all getting two hits each.
Messer finished 2-for-3 with three runs scored while Minahan went 2-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored. Rathburn was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI.
It was the Golden Eagles who scored first when left fielder Selena Estrada hit a one-out solo home run to left field in the top of the first inning. But the Jaguars quickly responded in the bottom half of the inning after Messer led off the inning with an infield single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. She was able to score after Stephanie Pilkington hit a single to right field and the catcher mishandled the throw to home.
USA’s Blair Johnson would a run in the second inning on freshman Haleigh Lowe’s single up the middle. Minahan would score a run in the third inning after a USM fielding error on senior shortstop Kaitlyn Griffith’s hit.
The Jags were up 3-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth inning when the Jags broke the game open. Johnson led off the inning with a bunt single then moved to scoring position at second base when Freshman Kaleigh Todd pinch hit for Kristian Foster and executed a sacrifice bunt. Amanda Herron followed with a double to right center field to put two Jaguars in scoring position. Messer then drew a walk to load the bases.
Amanda Minahan singled to score Todd and Alyssa Linn, who pinch ran for Herron, to extend the Jaguar lead to 5-1. Pilkington then hit a sacrifice fly to left center to score Messer. Rathburn followed with hit to left center scoring Minahan for a 7-1 advantage.
Two more runs in the bottom of the sixth completed its fifth run-rule win of the season. Lowe reached base on a third USM fielding error. Messer reached base for a third time in the game with a bunt single. Minahan and Pilkington both flied out and possed out respectively. Rathburn then singled to right field to score Lowe. Finally Griffith singled to drive in Messer to cap off the win.
South Alabama returns to conference play when they host Appalachian State this weekend beginning on Saturday with a double-header beginning at 1pm. Then the finale on Sunday starting at 1pm as well. However, the schedule may change due to expected weather in the Mobile area so please check the schedule to ensure game times have not changed.