Griffith's Three RBI's Drive South Alabama to Victory
SAN MARCOS, Texas – South Alabama senior Kaitlyn Griffith recorded three RBI's to propel the Jaguars to a 6-2 victory over No. 6 UL Monroe on Day 2 of the 2015 Sun Belt Softball Championship at Bobcat Softball Stadium.
Griffith started the scoring in the second inning with a solo home run to right centerfield. The Jaguars added three more runs in the fourth inning. Kristian Foster started the inning with a double. Rathburn reached on an error before Blair Johnson singled home Kaleigh Todd who was pinch running for Foster. Amanda Herron continued the Jaguars surge with a walk to load the bases. Rathburn scored on a wild pitch by Melanie Coyne and Amanda Minahan followed with a single up the middle to score Johnson.
The Jaguars added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth as Griffith doubled down the left field line to score Stephanie Pilkington and Todd who had both reached via walks.
Vanessa Garcia accounted for the all of the Warhawk runs as she went 1-for-4 with a two run home run in the sixth inning which scored Alexis Cacioppo.
Farish Beard moved to 10-4 on the season as she picked up the win for South Alabama. The senior pitched 6.1 innings and only allowed three hits and two runs while striking out eight Warhawks. Kalen McGill relieved her, inducing a game ending double play from the only batter she faced.
Sophomore Melanie Coyne made the start for the Warhawks going four innings while allowing four runs off four hits with only one run being earned. Coyne issued one walk in the start. Freshman Paige Porter made her first appearance in the Sun Belt Championship pitching two innings. Porter allowed two runs off two hits and walked three batters. Coyne was tagged with the loss to move to 13-14 on the season.
The Warhawks will face no. 5 Georgia State on Friday, May 8 at 10 a.m. in an elimination game. The rematch of last year's final between No. 1 UL Lafayette and South Alabama will be at 1 p.m. CT. The winner between Georgia State and UL Monroe advances to play the loser of the game between South Alabama and UL Lafayette at 4 p.m. CT at Bobcat Softball Stadium. All of Friday's action will be broadcast live on ESPN3.