MOBILE, Ala. — The South Alabama women’s tennis team captured the Sun Belt Conference championship on Sunday, edging Texas-Arlington 4-3 when junior Michaela Meszarosova won a long three-set match in the deciding position.
The title is the Jaguars’ first in the Sun Belt since 2003 and the program’s 17th conference crown overall, the most of any school in league history. With the win, South Alabama improved to 21-2 and earned the Sun Belt’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Heavy rain across the Gulf Coast also disrupted several South Alabama teams over the weekend, wiping out a softball series and delaying the start of the Sun Belt men’s golf championship.
Men’s Tennis Falls to Troy in Final
The South Alabama men reached the Sun Belt championship match but fell 4-1 to top-seeded Troy.
The Jaguars took the opening point when Daniel Leitner and Gerhard Gruindelingh won their doubles match 8-5. Troy won the next four points to secure the title.
South Alabama, ranked 69th nationally, fell to 16-9. Troy, ranked 60th, improved to 25-6.
Softball Series Washed Out
The No. 22 South Alabama softball team was scheduled to host Texas State in its final Sun Belt home series of the regular season, but the rescheduled Sunday doubleheader was canceled after a week of heavy rain left the field unplayable. No makeup date will be scheduled.
The Jaguars return to action Wednesday at Southern Miss in Hattiesburg, Miss. South Alabama defeated the Golden Eagles 9-1 in six innings in Mobile on March 18.
Golf Championship Delayed
The opening day of the Sun Belt Conference men’s golf championship was called off Sunday because of course conditions at the Sandestin Golf Resort’s Raven Course.
Weather permitting, the tournament will begin Monday at 7:30 a.m. with 36 holes, and the final round remains scheduled for Tuesday.
Baseball Takes Opener at Evansville
The South Alabama baseball team won the opener of its weekend series at Evansville in Indiana, 7-3, before the Purple Aces swept a Saturday doubleheader to take the series.
Evansville jumped ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning on a two-out, two-run home run. South Alabama answered with four runs in the top of the third, all on a grand slam by Ben Gann.
Evansville pulled within a run in the bottom of the fourth on a two-out RBI single to center field. The Jaguars restored a two-run lead with a run in the fifth and added two insurance runs later in the game.
Kevin Hill (6-0) earned his sixth consecutive win, allowing three runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts and three walks.
Evansville won the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader 6-5 and clinched the series with a 9-5 win in the finale.
South Alabama returns home this week for a two-game series against Jacksonville State at Eddie Stanky Field, with a 6 p.m. first pitch Tuesday and a 3 p.m. start Wednesday.
