MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama softball won all five of its games at its own Mardi Gras Invitational over the weekend, improving to 8-1 in the best start in the history of a program that began play in 2007.
The Jaguars beat Central Arkansas twice and also defeated Ole Miss, Lamar and Jackson State at Jaguar Field. Three of the five wins ended early under the run rule.
Friday: Central Arkansas
South Alabama opened the tournament with an 11-2 victory over Central Arkansas in six innings. Seven Jaguars recorded hits, and Hannah Campbell retired 13 consecutive Central Arkansas batters.
Saturday: Ole Miss and Lamar
The Jaguars beat Ole Miss 4-2 in the first game of a Saturday doubleheader. Blair Johnson put South Alabama on the board in the second inning with a two-run double to right-center field.
In the fourth, Julie Moss hit a solo home run over the center-field wall, and freshman Stephanie Pilkington followed with a solo homer of her own for a 4-0 lead. Ole Miss scored twice in the top of the fifth but did not score again.
Later Saturday, South Alabama defeated Lamar 8-0 in five innings. The Jaguars scored in every inning. Jessica Dobson and Kaleigh Floore combined to hold the Cardinals to two hits without issuing a walk.
Sunday: Central Arkansas and Jackson State
South Alabama beat Central Arkansas for the second time in the tournament, 7-4. With the game tied 2-2, the Jaguars scored four runs in the fifth inning to go ahead 6-2. Britany Campbell later added South Alabama’s final run with an inside-the-park home run.
The Jaguars closed the event with a 10-2 win over Jackson State in five innings. Dobson threw four hitless innings as South Alabama built a 3-0 lead. Jackson State scored twice in the top of the fifth after two walks, a sacrifice bunt and a single to center field. South Alabama responded with seven runs in the bottom of the inning to end the game by run rule.
Campbell Named MVP
Hannah Campbell was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. She went 1-0 with a 2.03 ERA, striking out eight and allowing eight hits in 10 1/3 innings.
Tournament Results
- Friday: South Alabama 11, Central Arkansas 2 (6 innings)
- Saturday: South Alabama 4, Ole Miss 2
- Saturday: South Alabama 8, Lamar 0 (5 innings)
- Sunday: South Alabama 7, Central Arkansas 4
- Sunday: South Alabama 10, Jackson State 2 (5 innings)
