BOX SCORE

MOBILE, Ala. – The Jacksonville State softball team scored a couple of early runs and then rode a solid pitching performance from Ashley Eliasson to cruise to a 5-1 season-opening win over Memphis in the South Alabama Jaguar Invitational on Friday.

The Gamecocks (1-0) scored a run in each of the first two innings and turned it over to the sophomore Eliasson, who mowed down the Tigers (0-1), striking out 12 while allowing just four hits in seven innings of work. The native of Vallejo, Calif., who was named the Ohio Valley Conference's Freshman of the Year in 2008, did not allow a hit until the fourth inning and struck out at least one batter in every inning to improve JSU to 12-4 in season openers under 16th-year head coach Jana McGinnis.

JSU scattered its six hits, all singles, among six players, with senior Allie Barker and junior Nikki Prier each driving in a run. Freshmen Allison Svoboda and Meredith Sellers and junior Hillary Downs each recorded their first career hits in the game, while Barker and fellow seniors Kayla Collins and Courtney Underwood had the other three hits.

The Gamecocks got on the board in the home half of the first on Barker's single that scored senior Jackie Jarman, who drew one of 11 JSU walks on the night. They got another in the second on another walk, this one issued to Prier with the bases loaded and two down in the inning.

The Tigers cut their deficit to 2-1 in the top of the sixth on a leadoff home run from Heather Mott, but a defensive miscue in the bottom of the inning would put the game out of reach. With two down and the bases loaded, left fielder Leandra Hines dropped a fly ball off of the bat of Downs, allowing three runs to score and giving the Gamecocks the deciding advantage.

Kimber Bossom (0-1) was tagged with the loss for Memphis after allowing five runs, two earned, on six hits and 11 walks in six innings in the circle. She struck out three and threw a pair of wild pitches. Eliasson (1-0) got the win wit her complete game, surrendering a run on four hits. She did not issue a walk but did hit one batter.

The Gamecocks continue the three-day event on Saturday, when they play two games. They will take on host South Alabama at noon before wrapping up the day at 4 p.m. against Northwestern State.