South Alabama took a major step toward locking up a top 3 seed for the Sun Belt Conference softball tournament last weekend, winning two of three at arch-rival Troy.

The Jaguars (29-16-1 overall, 14-7 Sun Belt) lost 3-2 in 10 innings on Friday before winning 6-3 on Saturday and 7-2 on Sunday. The series win moved South Alabama into sole possession of third place in the conference heading into the final series of the regular season at home vs. Southern Miss this weekend.

Mackenzie Brasher, Gabby Stagner and Bailey Welch all had big weekends at the plate for the Jaguars, while pitcher Olivia Lackie picked up her 20th win of the season with a complete game on Sunday. South Alabama went 6-1 on a seven-game road trip, including a 2-0 win at Mississippi State and a sweep at Georgia State before the series victory over Troy.

“I’m incredibly proud of our effort and toughness this weekend,” South Alabama coach Becky Clark said. “Bouncing back after the extra-inning loss on Friday was huge for us. We showed a lot of grit and toughness bouncing back and taking the series on their home field. I thought we grew as a team over these last three days and that’s the coolest part for me.”

South Alabama is a game behind second-place Texas State in the Sun Belt standings, though the Bobcats (39-13, 15-6) hold the head-to-head tiebreaker based on winning two of three in Mobile in late March. Texas State — which hosts the Sun Belt tournament May 8-10 — finishes the regular season at home vs. Marshall this weekend, and would need to lose at least two of three to get overtaken by the Jaguars.

Troy, meanwhile, is tied for fourth at 12-9 in league play, and holds the head-to-head tiebreaker on Coastal Carolina (also 12-9). The Trojans (32-19 overall) face a monumental task to stay in that spot, however, finishing the regular season at first-place Louisiana this weekend.

“We are disappointed in the outcome, but the silver lining is that we had six incredible seniors with incredible careers here in Troy,” Troy coach Eric Newell said after Sunday’s Senior Day loss to South Alabama. “In wins and losses, you can always learn from them, and you can always be leaders. That’s a great group. Their leadership has shown throughout the season.

“We’ve had a good bit of adversary; we’ve had this or that happen in the season, but they have continued to rise to the top. Even though we didn’t get the outcome that we wanted, there is time to celebrate these seniors who have meant so much to Troy softball.”

Louisiana has locked up the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament once again, standing a full five games ahead of Texas State. The Ragin’ Cajuns are 20-1 in Sun Belt play, 38-15 overall.

One benefit of being the No. 3 seed for the conference tournament is that it would keep the Jaguars on the opposite side of the bracket from Louisiana. The third seed would probably face the No. 2 seed (likely Texas State) in the quarterfinals, but not the Ragin’ Cajuns until the championship game.

Louisiana is No. 11 in the RPI and Texas State is 17, virtually assuring those teams of at-large NCAA Regional berths. South Alabama is next on the list at No. 32, and could secure a spot in the 64-team field with a strong run in the Sun Belt tournament.

The Jaguars were snubbed from the NCAA regionals last year despite a 20-4 Sun Belt record and an RPI of 42. However, this year’s team has non-conference victories over Alabama, Arkansas, South Carolina and Mississippi State, plus a tie with Arizona — all of which are projected to make the NCAA tournament.