South Alabama Jaguars softball earns a split on Friday, winning the 1st game versus Furman and losing the night cap versus Mississippi St.
Game 1 vs Furman
The Jaguars would get started early in the bottom of the first. After Mackenzie Brasher lined out on the first pitch to shortstop for the first out. Meredith Keel would single on the 1-0 pitch through the left side. Gabby Stagner would single on the very next pitch to center. That would bring Victoria Ortiz to the plate with two on and one out. Ortiz would crush a 3 run home run to left center. Sasha Willems would single to center field. Odalys Cordova and would walk. That would bring Emma Kropp the plate with two on and one out. Kropp would pop up to shortstop for the second out. Marley Sims would walk to load the bases for Brooklyn Bockhaus. Brooklyn would pop out to third to end the inning. The Jags would send nine people to the plate and pick up 3 runs on 4 hits. The Jaguars would lead 3-0 after 1 inning.
That was all the Jags would need as Jenna Hardy would go the distance. Hardy would pitch 7 innings giving up 4 hits and 2 runs, striking out 4 and walking 2.
Game two vs Mississippi State
In the second game on Friday SEC power Mississippi State scored 1 run in the top of the first inning. That 1-0 would hold until the bottom of the second inning.
After Ortiz stuck out for out number one. Willems would hit a ground rule double to left center. Cordova would ground out to 3rd base for the second out. Shelby Garrett would hit an RBI double to left scoring Willems. Bailey Welch would strike out swinging to end the inning Jags and MSU tied 1-1 after 2 innings
In the 3rd inning the Bulldogs would pick up another run and lead 2-1 after 3.
Mississippi State would pick up 2 more runs in the 5th inning and 4 runs in the 6th to take an 8-1 lead into the bottom of the 7th.
The Jaguars would finally get some offense going in the bottom of the seventh. Ortiz would single to left, and advance to second on a wild pitch. Willems and Cordova would both walk to load the bases. Garrett would strike out for out one. Sophia Mendoza would pinch hit for Welch. Mendoza would pick up the RBI by getting the bases loaded walk. Sims would single to left scoring Willems. Unfortunately Hannah Ogea and Keel would both strike out to end the game. The final score 8-4.
Olivia Lackie would pick up the loss going 5 1/3 innings giving up 7 runs (6 earned) on 10 hits with 6 strikeouts and 1 walk. Her record falls to 4-3 on the year. Hardy came in to finish up the game.
Next up
The Jags record falls to 7-6 overall. The next game for South Alabama will be a single game against Tulsa at 5:30 Saturday to close out day three of the South Alabama Invitational
