MOBILE, Ala. — Kyle Bartsch became South Alabama’s career saves leader as the Jaguars took two of three games from Western Kentucky at Eddie Stanky Field, moving into sole possession of first place in the Sun Belt Conference baseball standings.
The South Alabama softball team, meanwhile, swept Louisiana-Monroe on the road with three run-rule victories, the first time in school history the Jaguars have won every game of a weekend series by the mercy rule.
Bartsch Sets School Saves Record
Western Kentucky won Friday’s opener 10-8, using a five-run sixth inning to pull away. Hilltoppers starter Tanner Perkins allowed two runs on six hits over six innings with four strikeouts and one walk. South Alabama’s Jarron Cito took the loss, giving up seven runs on six hits with one strikeout and three walks in five innings.
South Alabama evened the series Saturday with a 6-3 win. The teams were tied 1-1 midway through the sixth inning before the Jaguars scored four runs on three hits in the bottom half.
Matt Bell allowed one run on two hits with three walks and five strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings and received a no-decision. James Traylor earned the win with two-thirds of an inning of hitless, scoreless relief. Dylan Stamey pitched two innings, allowing two runs on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
Bartsch retired the side in order in the ninth for the 19th save of his career, passing Blaine Dollar for the school record.
On Sunday, the Jaguars clinched the series with a 7-5 victory. Western Kentucky scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game 5-5, but South Alabama answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning.
Jacob Noble allowed two earned runs on seven hits with six strikeouts and two walks over 5 2/3 innings. Traylor picked up his second win of the weekend in two-thirds of an inning, and Bartsch threw two scoreless innings with two walks and two strikeouts for his 10th save of the season and the 20th of his career.
Jaguars Lead the Sun Belt
South Alabama improved to 29-12 overall and 12-6 in the Sun Belt, while Western Kentucky fell to 21-19 and 11-7. The Jaguars hold a one-game lead over Troy, Florida Atlantic and Western Kentucky, who are tied for second.
South Alabama hosts Jacksonville State in a two-game midweek series Tuesday and Wednesday.
Softball Sweeps Louisiana-Monroe by Run Rule
South Alabama won both games of Saturday’s doubleheader at Louisiana-Monroe by a combined 25-1, taking an 11-1 decision and a 14-0 victory. The Jaguars combined for 21 hits and six home runs in the two games.
Freshman Haley Fagan went 6-for-7 on Saturday with two home runs, four runs scored and five RBIs. She leads the team with 43 RBIs and also moved into the team lead in home runs.
Brittany Fowler went 4-for-5 with two RBIs and four runs scored, extending her on-base streak to 23 games and tying her career best.
Hannah Campbell and Farish Beard each earned their 18th win of the season. Campbell struck out four and allowed three hits, no walks and one earned run. Beard pitched three scoreless innings in the second game, striking out five and allowing one hit and one walk.
South Alabama completed the sweep Sunday with an 8-0 run-rule win. The Jaguars scored four runs in the first inning, starting with consecutive singles by Fowler, Blair Johnson and Fagan. Fowler scored on Fagan’s hit, the other two runners scored on a wild pitch and a throwing error, and Alex Breeden added an RBI single that scored Kaitlyn Griffith.
Beard earned her 19th win, striking out seven and allowing one hit and one walk in four innings. Campbell pitched two innings, striking out four and allowing one hit.
Softball Ranked, Leading Conference
South Alabama improved to 40-7 overall and 16-3 in the Sun Belt, holding first place ahead of Western Kentucky at 15-3. The Jaguars are No. 17 in the RPI, No. 20 in the USA Today coaches poll and No. 21 in the ESPN.com poll.
The Jaguars close the regular season against Troy, with a Wednesday game at Jaguar Field followed by a doubleheader in Troy on May 4. The Sun Belt Conference tournament begins May 8 in Troy.