After a loss to New Mexico earlier in the day, South Alabama’s softball team responded with a 4-1 win over Samford on Saturday night. The victory marked head coach Becky Clark’s 600th career win with the program during the second day of the Jaguar Classic at Jaguar Field.
Reflecting on the day’s games, Clark said: “I thought in the first game, I got out-coached and we got outplayed. In game two, we had good pitching, good defense, and more quality at-bats. Those little things added up to big things in the end.”
In the opening game against New Mexico, South Alabama struggled defensively, allowing seven unearned runs in the second inning after an error with two outs. New Mexico capitalized further in the fourth inning by scoring nine additional runs, extending their lead to 16-0. Allie Williams and Miracle McKenzie contributed multiple hits and combined for six RBIs for New Mexico. Caitlin Benningfield also played a significant role with four RBIs.
South Alabama managed its only run of that game when Regained Franka tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Virginia Mambelli in the fourth inning. The final score was 16-1 in favor of New Mexico.
The Jaguars regrouped for their matchup against Samford. After Samford took a 1-0 lead in the third inning with Katie Campbell driving in Brandy Phillips, South Alabama responded in their half of the fourth when Sydney Stewart hit a two-run home run to give her team a 2-1 lead. Additional runs came from Gracie Dees’ RBI single and Edy Gavin’s sacrifice fly in the fifth.
Pitcher Ryley Harrison struck out nine batters while allowing five hits over seven innings for South Alabama. She moved into ninth place on South Alabama’s all-time career strikeout list with 193 strikeouts and recorded her 21st complete game.
Postgame statistics highlighted contributions from several players: Franka reached base three times and scored; Lively had a hit and two sacrifice bunts; Dees added another RBI; Stewart provided crucial offense with her home run.
South Alabama will finish play at the Jaguar Classic against No. 12 Mississippi State on Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
For updates about South Alabama Softball, fans can follow @SouthAlabamaSB on Twitter or Instagram, /SouthAlabamaSB on Facebook, or visit usajaguars.com.
