GAME ONE STATS
GAME TWO STATS

MACON, Ga. – A dramatic five-run seventh inning for the Jacksonville State softball team erased a 2-0 deficit in the first game and sparked a doubleheader sweep for the Gamecocks at Mercer on Wednesday evening.

The Gamecocks (5-2) got a three-run double from senior Allie Barker that broke a 2-2 tie with two outs in the seventh inning to lift JSU to a 5-2 win inn the opener. Jax State would get a complete game from junior Kelly McGregor in the nightcap to come away with a 7-3 win and the twinbill sweep over the Bears (3-5).

McGregor, a native of Camarillo, Calif., held the Bears to a .185 batting average in her first appearance of the season. It was her first career complete game and the fourth of the season after senior Melissa Dowling tossed on in the first game of the day.

The Gamecocks got some offensive leadership from a pair of freshmen in the twinbill. Gardendale, Ala., native Allison Svoboda was 4-for-6 on the day to lead all JSU players. She doubled twice and scored a pair of runs. Meredith Sellers, a native of Columbiana, Ala., was 3-for-6 with an RBI and a run scored.

Nine JSU players recorded at least one hit on the day, while seven drove in at least one run. Barker's three RBI on her game-winning double led JSU, while freshman Kaycee Crow and junior Mary Beth Ledbetter each drove in two runs.

With two outs in seventh inning of the opening game, Barker hit a three-run double to the gap in right center to break a 2-2 tie and cap the five-run frame. The Gamecocks led off the inning by loading the bases with no outs.

Ledbetter pushed the first run of the rally across with a bases loaded single, and then senior Courtney Underwood tied the game with a walk that drove in senior Kayla Collins. Barker then came through with the game winner.

Dowling (2-0) got the win in the circle for the Gamecocks after allowing a pair of runs on eight hits in her first complete game of the season. The Bradenton, Fla., native struck out four Mercer hitters and walked five.

Jenni Holtz took the loss for Mercer after surrendering five runs on 10 hits. She was dominant for most of the game, striking out nine JSU batters and walking just one.

Ledbetter, Sellers and Svoboda each picked up two hits in the game to lead JSU's offensive attack.

In the nightcap, Mercer took a 1-0 lead in the first by scoring an unearned run off of an error by Barker behind the plate. The Gamecocks would claim the lead with a two-run third that was sparked by double from Crow that plated Barker and Sellers.

They added four more in the top of the fourth to pull away from the Bears. Junior Chrissy O'Neal led off the big inning with an RBI double, and Collins and Sellers followed with a pair of run-scoring hits. Collins would score the final run of the inning on a passed ball, putting JSU up, 6-1.

Mercer cut the JSU advantage to 6-3 in the home half of the sixth on a two-run homer off of the bat of Sara Stukes. The Gamecocks tacked one insurance run on in the seventh, when a ground ball by Ledbetter allowed Crow to score from third.

McGregor (1-0) went the distance in her first action of the season, allowing three runs, two earned on five hits. She fanned three Bears and didn't issue a walk in her seven innings of work.

Lacey Richardson was credited with the loss for the Bears after giving up three runs on four hits over her three innings in the circle. She walked three and didn't record a strikeout.

The Gamecocks now head to Tampa, Fla., where they will compete in the South Florida The Game Tournament over the weekend. They open play Friday at 7 p.m. against Florida A&M.