MOBILE, Ala. - Beth Pilgrim and the South
Alabama defense put together an impressive performance on Sunday afternoon to
earn a 3-1 conference win over the ULM softball team. The Jaguars also claimed
the series after winning games one and three of the conference set.
The Warhawks scored in the opening frame, but
was able to put more than two baserunners on base over the remainder of the
game. South Alabama capitalized on a ULM error in the opening frame for a run
and scored two runs in the fifth off three singles and a sacrifice bunt.
The Warhawks were led by five different
batters who recorded a base hit, while Brianna Love scored the Warhawks only
run. Roxy Cassel hit ULM's (16-17, 5-7) only RBI.
Britany Campbell finished with a 3-for-3
performance for South Alabama (18-16, 5-5), to go along with a run scored and a
RBI. Kamee Vessey also recorded two base hits in the win.
Pilgrim (13-7) picked up the win after
allowing just one run in a complete game effort. She gave up five three hits,
struck out nine and walked two in the contest she never allowed more than four
batters in the first six innings.
ULM and South Alabama exchanged a run in the
opening frame. Love opened the contest with a walk, before advancing to second
a Sarah Carriger bunt and to third on a wild pitch. Cassel then hit a deep
pitch to center field to drive in Love from third base. The Jaguars hit
consecutive singles to lead off their half of the inning. Brittany Fowler would
score from second on a Warhawk throwing error for their first run of the game.
The Warhawks nearly notched another run in
the third frame to go ahead by a run. Elise West led off the inning with a
single, before Love hit a two-base single to left-center field. With runners on
second and third Carriger hit fly ball to right field, but a Jaguar appeal was
upheld with the runner leaving early to erase the run and give ULM an out.
South Alabama used a trio of singles and a
sacrifice bunt in the fifth inning to score two runs and go in front 3-1. Kamee
Vessey led off with a single through the left side, before Fowler recorded a
sacrifice bunt. Campbell followed with a RBI single to left field and two
batters later Haley Hopkins hit her own RBI single to right-center field.
Amanda Sartoris laced a double off the base
of the left-center field wall to begin a seventh-inning rally for the Warhawks.
Following a strikeout, Michelle Farrell-Fink hit a bloop single to right field,
which advanced Sartoris to third. Pilgrim fanned a Warhawk batter looking to
end any chance of a ULM comeback.
Tiffany Mills (5-6) was tagged with the loss
after allowing three runs, two earned, on seven hits over five innings of work.
She struck out two and walked two.
ULM finishes its eight-game road trip on Wednesday
with a single non-conference game at Northwestern State. The contest is
scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.
