MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Southern University Lady Jaguars are looking to continue their offensive momentum into the HBCU Celebration in Montgomery, Alabama from February 24-26. Alabama State University is the host school and all games will be played at the Barbra Williams Softball Complex on the campus of ASU.
 
The Lady Jaguars are coming off their first win on the season when they defeated Jackson State, 5-3, to close out the Mardi Gras Class.
 
Southern produced 24 hits and 17 runs on the weekend in games against Eastern Illinois, Arlington Baptist, Alabama State and Jackson State.
 
Alana Mark leads Southern at the plate with a .300 average on the season. Mark has team high two doubles and five RBIs. Anabella Valadez (.500), Asia George (.278), Keira Miracle-Tilford (.278) and Sydney Wesley (.250) are all batting over .250 on the season.
 
Valadez had a big day against JSU in the win. She went 2-for-3 with a triple and a home run to help lead the Lady Jaguars to victory. All three of Valadez's hits on the season have gone for extra bases.
 
Valadez also contributes in the circle as one of the Lady Jaguars top pitchers. She has struck out nine in 16.2 innings of work. Blair Willis is the other main pitcher the Lady Jaguars have used this season. She picked up the win against JSU, striking out five and scattering five hits over seven innings. She has struck out 12 in 20.1 innings this season.
 
After struggling opening weekend in the field, the Lady Jaguars have started to be more efficient in the field. Seven Lady Jaguars boast a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. Led by Mark (50), Wesley (20) and McKenzie Ogden (10) as the only Lady Jaguars with double digit chances.
 
Southern opens the tournament against Florida A&M at 7 p.m. on Friday before returning in the morning for a rematch. After the rematch on Saturday against FAMU, the Lady Jaguars will play Alabama A&M at 11:30. Sunday will see the Lady Jaguars play AAMU again before finishing out the tournament against Alabama State.
 
The Lady Jaguars only played FAMU once last season, a 13-3 win in the SWAC tournament.
 
It has been two seasons since Southern has played Alabama A&M. In the 2021 season, AAMU won the season series 2-1.
 
Alabama State won the matchup this season against Southern, 9-2. Before then, the last time the Lady Jaguars took on ASU was in the 2021 season. Southern won the weekend series 2-1, but ASU would win the game in the SWAC tournament 7-6 in 11 innings.

FOLLOW THE JAGUARS
For complete coverage of Southern University Athletics, please follow the Jaguars on social media at @SouthernUsports (Twitter), @SouthernUJaguars (Facebook), @southernusports (Instagram) or visit the official home of Southern University Athletics at www.gojagsports.com.

#GoJags    #ProwlOn   #SouthernIsTheStandard   #WeAreSouthern