GULFPORT, Miss. — No. 14 South Alabama softball went 4-1 at the Gulf Coast Classic, a weekend highlighted by Farish Beard’s second career no-hitter.
Beard’s No-Hitter
Beard struck out a career-high 15 batters in a 3-0 win over UTSA on Saturday. South Alabama outhit the Roadrunners 4-0 and scored all three of its runs in the fourth inning.
Freshmen Taylor Rodgers and Amanda Minahan drove in the runs. Rodgers had a two-run single, and Minahan hit a solo home run, the first of her career.
Shut Out by Baylor
In Saturday’s second game, No. 12 Baylor beat South Alabama 1-0. The Jaguars managed two hits to the Bears’ nine.
It was the first time South Alabama had been shut out in 58 games, dating to a 4-0 loss to No. 1 Alabama on Feb. 28, 2012.
Hannah Campbell took the loss and fell to 4-1. She pitched all seven innings, striking out eight, walking one and allowing one earned run.
Win Over Chattanooga
South Alabama closed the tournament with a 2-1 win over Chattanooga.
Chattanooga took the lead on an RBI single by Clara Bowen, and Rodgers tied the game in the third inning. Chloe Rathburn broke the 1-1 tie in the bottom of the fourth.
Stephanie Pilkington went 3-for-3 and scored the winning run. South Alabama outhit the Mocs 5-2 and took advantage of two Chattanooga errors.
Beard struck out nine in four innings to improve to 9-1. Campbell struck out two in three innings of relief to earn her third save.
Up Next
South Alabama (15-2), coached by Becky Clark, travels to Boca Raton, Fla., next weekend for the Parents’ Weekend Tournament hosted by Florida Atlantic.
