MOBILE, Ala. — No. 20 South Alabama softball begins its 2014 season tonight when it hosts No. 21 UAB at 6 p.m. in the opening game of the annual Mardi Gras Invitational at the newly renovated Jaguar Field.
The tournament runs through Sunday. After the opener against the Blazers, the Jaguars are scheduled to play Syracuse twice and face McNeese State and Austin Peay over the weekend.
Building on a Record Season
South Alabama returns seven starters from a 2013 team that went 48-9, setting program records for most wins and fewest losses in a season. The Jaguars also won their second consecutive Sun Belt Conference Tournament championship last season and hosted an NCAA Regional for the first time in program history.
The preseason No. 20 ranking is the first preseason top-25 ranking in program history.
Experienced Pitching Staff
Senior Hannah Campbell and junior Farish Beard return to the circle. The pair combined for a 1.43 earned run average last season, the third-best mark in the nation.
Campbell became the first All-American in South Alabama softball history last season. Beard finished the 2013 season with a perfect 23-0 record.
Roster Changes
South Alabama added six newcomers to the roster. The Jaguars lost seniors Brittany Fowler, Britany Campbell, Meghan Collins and Jessica Dobson to graduation, and Haley Fagan transferred to Auburn after the 2013 season.
Fowler finished her career as South Alabama’s all-time leader in hits.
Clark Begins Eighth Season
Head coach Becky Clark enters her eighth season leading the Jaguars and her ninth year overall at the university. Clark has led the program since its inception.
Tournament Schedule
South Alabama’s Mardi Gras Invitational slate:
- Thursday: UAB, 6 p.m.
- Through Sunday: Syracuse (two games), McNeese State and Austin Peay
All games will be played at Jaguar Field.
Update: Jaguars Run-Rule UAB in Opener
South Alabama opened the season with an 8-0 victory over UAB, ending the game after five innings under the run rule. Junior Farish Beard struck out 10 batters and allowed one hit in the complete-game shutout.
The Fairhope native recorded the 10th double-digit strikeout game of her career and pushed her scoreless-innings streak to 38 1/3 innings, a run that dates to the 2013 postseason. Beard has not lost a decision in her last 36 appearances.
How the Runs Scored
- First inning: Julie Moss scored from second base when UAB right fielder Kristen McGrath dropped a Kaitlyn Griffith fly ball at the wall.
- Second inning: Stephanie Pilkington drove in two runs with a single to right, and Blair Johnson added a sacrifice fly to center that scored Amanda Herron for a 4-0 lead.
- Third inning: Freshman Chloe Rathburn hit a three-run home run to center field in her second collegiate at-bat, scoring Moss and Griffith.
- Fourth inning: Pilkington tripled to score Gwen Jones, giving her three RBIs and setting the final margin.
UAB’s only threat came in the third inning, when the Blazers put two runners on with a single and a hit batter before Beard ended the inning with a strikeout. Beard struck out the side in the fourth.
South Alabama outhit UAB 7-1. Blazers pitcher Lannah Campbell, the twin sister of Jaguars pitcher Hannah Campbell, took the loss after allowing seven runs, six earned, on six hits and a walk.
Clark on the Opener
“There’s been a lot of distractions going on – the construction, the hype and that kind of stuff – so I thought for her to give us that kind of outing on day one was huge, especially in the cold tonight,” Clark said of Beard.
“I think that was about the best way you could possibly start off a season,” Clark said. “I thought the hitters were phenomenal tonight.”
South Alabama was scheduled to face Syracuse at 5:45 p.m. Friday as the Mardi Gras Invitational continued at Jaguar Field.
