MOBILE, Ala. - On the opening day of the Sun Belt Conference Championship, the fifth-seeded South Alabama softball team battled hard, but fell 1-0 fourth-seeded Florida Atlantic Wednesday evening at Jaguar Field.

With the loss, USA dropped 21-23 on the year and will now take on eighth-seeded Middle Tennessee on Thursday at 12:30 in an elimination game.  FAU improves to 28-24 and advances to the winner's bracket to take on top-seeded Louisiana-Lafayette.

Both pitchers held the opposing offenses in check.  FAU's Taylor Fawbush (10-8) earned the victory, going the distance in the shutout.  The Owl senior allowed just one Jaguar hit, and struck out five.  Beth Pilgrim (16-12) had a solid outing for South Alabama in the loss, as she struck out eight batters and allowed just three hits.

"I thought that both Fawbush and Pilgrim made tough pitches," USA head Coach Becky Clark said. "This is time of the year when you get an opportunity, you have to take advantage of it. I am looking forward to coming out tomorrow and fighting hard against Middle Tennessee. This year in our conference, there has been a tremendous amount of parity, so you can't take anything for granted."

Ambar Jones led the Owls with a 2-for-2 performance at the plate.  Jessica Myer was 1-for-3 for FAU, and provided the big hit. 

After being held hitless through the first five innings, Brittany Fowler singled up the middle to give the Jags their first and only hit of the day.

Myers broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the sixth when she homered over the right field wall.

The Jaguars attempted to rally in the top of the seventh, placing a runner at second with one out, but Fawbush did not allow the runner to get any closer, recording the final two outs to give the Owls the 1-0 victory.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

-USA-