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Farish Beard Postgame Interview

Becky Clark Postgame Interview

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2014 Mardi Gras Invitational Tournament Central

MOBILE, Ala. – Farish Beard struck out 10 batters and allowed only one hit, while Stephanie Pilkington and Chloe Rathburn added three RBI apiece to lift No. 20 University of South Alabama softball to an 8-0, five-inning, mercy-rule defeat of No. 21 UAB in the opening contest of the 2014 Mardi Gras Invitational at Jaguar Field on Thursday.
 
It was Beard's 10^th career double-digit strikeout performance, and the junior of Fairhope, Ala., extended her shutout streak to 38 1/3 innings, dating back to the 2013 postseason.
 
"It was the first game of the year, so obviously you're going to have some nerves, but I settled in after the first inning and had great defense," Beard commented. "Eight runs. What else can you ask for [as a pitcher]?"
 
The first run of USA's eight came in the first inning – the Jags scored in all four frames in which it batted – by way of a Blazer mishap when right fielder Kristen McGrath dropped Kaitlyn Griffith's moonshot to the right field wall, allowing Julie Moss to score from second.
 
Beard recorded strikeouts three and four a half-inning later before Pilkington crushed a two-RBI single through the right side of UAB's defense to plate Emily Messer, who got on with a bunt single, and newcomer Amanda Herron, who reached on a fielder's choice. Blair Johnson then sacrificed herself with a towering shot to center field that allowed Herron to reach home plate, giving USA a 4-0 lead after two.
 
After a strikeout and forced groundout in the top of the third, Beard allowed two Blazers to reach when Caitlin Attfield singled up the middle and Amy Dennis took one off the helmet, but Beard's rise ball snuck over the bat of Heather Pearson for out three.
 
USA freshman Chloe Rathburn extended the Jaguar lead to seven runs in the bottom of the third when she sent a three-run home run over the center field wall in only her second collegiate at-bat, scoring Moss and Griffith, who reached on a double and hit-by-pitch, respectively.
 
Beard dealt three consecutive strikeouts in the top of the fourth before Pilkington produced her third RBI a half-inning later on a triple that scored Gwen Jones, who singled and subsequently stole, from second base, giving the Jags eight unanswered runs and the possibility of a run-rule victory.
 
Beard fanned her 10^th UAB batter before forcing a pop-up to third and corralling a dribbler up the middle to throw Attfield out at first and secure USA's first victory of 2014. She hasn't lost a decision in her last 36 appearances.
 
Said USA head coach Becky Clark of Beard's performance, "There's been a lot of distractions going on – the construction, the hype and that kind of stuff – so I thought for her to give us that kind of outing on day one was huge, especially in the cold tonight."
 
South Alabama (1-0) outhit the Blazers, 7-1, on the night, with Pilkington leading all batters at the plate, going 2-for-3 with the three RBI. Moss and Jones each scored two runs apiece, while Griffith, Rathburn, Herron and Messer added one apiece.
 
UAB's Lannah Campbell took the loss for the Blazers, giving up seven runs, six earned, and allowing six hits and a walk. Cara Goodwin came on late for UAB and gave up a single hit.
 
"I think that was about the best way you could possibly start off a season," Clark said. "I thought the hitters were phenomenal tonight. They were balanced at the plate and waited on pitches they could drive. I thought [the young players] did a great job. They looked like they've been playing for us for years."
 
USA will take on Syracuse at 5:45 p.m. on Friday in its second contest of the 2014 Mardi Gras Invitational. Live stats and in-game Twitter updates can be found by accessing the softball-specific schedule page shortly before first pitch.
 
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).