South Alabama Softball opened up the home schedule by hosting the Mardi Gras Classic. The Jags went 1-1 on day 1 of the classic, losing game one 3-1 vs Missouri State. Then in game two The Jaguars beat Mississippi Valley State 9-0 in 5 innings.
In game one versus Missouri State. All of the scoring happened in the 4th inning. In the top of the 4th Missouri State started the scoring when Kelsie Lewis hits a 3 run home run off of Jags starter Jenna Hardy.
In the bottom of the 4th Mackenzie Brasher singles on the first pitch of the inning. Marley Sims singled on the 1-0 pitch to center field. Sims advanced to second on the throw home, in which Brasher was thrown out at the plate.
Meredith Keel singled to center on the first pitch off her at bat scoring Sims on the play. Gabby Stagner walks sending Keel to second. Stephanie Gonzalez grounds out on the sac bunt for out number two moving both runners up. Odalys Cordova filed out to center ending the threat. Unfortunately, that is as close as the Jags would get.
With the loss Hardy drops to 0-2 on the year. Overall, Jenna pitched well, with the exception of the 4th.
Her line was 7 innings 3 hits and 3 runs all earned, walking 2 and striking out 11 on 111 pitches.
Game Two
In the second game Mississippi Valley State would play the Jaguars.
The Jags would start the scoring off in the bottom of the first. Mackenzie Brasher singled to shortstop. Brasher would then steal second and advance to third on a throwing error by the catcher.
Meredith Keel would single on the 1-2 pitch to center, picking up the RBI scoring Brasher. Sasha Willem flied out to center for out one. Keel would then steal 2nd on the first pitch to Odalys Cordova. On the next pitch (1-0) Cordova would hit an RBI triple to right field scoring Keel from second.
Stagner would then double on an 0-2 pitch, knocking in Cordova. South led 3-0 with only 1 out. Victoria Ortiz reach on an error by the 1st baseman. Stagner would advance to 3rd on the play. Shelby Garrett walked on 5 pitches to load the bases. Bailey Welch walked and picked up the RBI when Stagner scored. The Jaguars led 4-0 still only 1 out. Next batter Marley Sims walked and picked up the RBI scoring Ortiz 5-0 Jaguars lead. Mackenzie Brasher reach on the third error of the inning by Mississippi Valley. Picking up a RBI scoring Garrett on the play. South Alabama opens up a 6-0 lead. Meredith Keel would line into a double play on the 1st pitch of her second at bat of the inning. Ending the inning with the Jaguars leading 6-0.
In the bottom of the second, South Alabama pick up where they left off the inning before. With 1 out Odalys Cordova would single to left, and stole second before Stagner hit a double to right center scoring Cordova. Victoria Ortiz would hit an rbi sac fly to left field scoring Cordova. The Jags would lead 7-0 at the end of the second inning.
In the bottom of the 3rd the Jags would continue to hammer Mississippi Valley State. South Alabama would pick up 2 more runs that inning. One run came on a double steal by Mackenzie Brasher who stole second, and Marley Sims, who stole home after stealing 2nd on a previous pitch. Meredith Keel singled to left scoring Brasher, who stole her second base of the inning on a previous pitch. That would wrap up the scoring in the inning. The Jags were pouring it on leading 9-0. The Jags stole 5 bases that inning which would include Meredith Keel stealing 2nd.
Olivia Lackie would make the lead stand up. Lackie pitched 4 innings of no hit no runs ball, striking out 10 on just 48 pitches.Madison Lagle came in for relief in the final inning. Lackie picked up the win, and is now 1-2 on the year. The Jags are now 2 -4 on the season.
Next up on day 2 of the Mardi Gras Classic.
The Jags take on Missouri State again at 3 and Rutgers at 5:30
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