GAME 1 STATS
GAME 2 STATS

JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State softball team got its Ohio Valley Conference schedule started on the right foot on Sunday afternoon, when the Gamecocks swept a doubleheader from Austin Peay at University Field.

The Gamecocks (15-7, 2-0 OVC) rallied for two runs in the sixth to pull off a 3-2 win in the first game of the day before erupting for an 8-1 win in the nightcap. The Lady Govs (5-16, 0-2 OVC) managed just eight hits on the day to fall to 6-15 all-time against Jax State. The series was shortened to two games after rain forced the teams to postpone their Saturday game.

In the opening game of the day, sophomore Ashley Eliasson settled in after allowing a run in each of the first two innings. The Vallejo, Calif., native ended up going the distance and limiting the APSU offense to two runs on just two hits. She walked a batter and struck out five to improve to 5-3 on the year.

Eliasson held the Lady Govs' bats at bay until the Gamecocks were able to get to APSU starter Ashley Bolda. Bolda held JSU to just three hits through the first five innings before a single from junior Chrissy O'Neal was followed by back-to-back RBI doubles from senior Allie Barker and junior Nikki Prier to erase a 2-1 deficit and give the Gamecocks the win.

Barker, a native of Gadsden, Ala., went 4-for-7 on the day, while Prier, a Raleigh, N.C., native, was 3-for-7 with a home run and three RBI to lead the Gamecock offense.

Austin Peay got a run in the first on a leadoff home run to left by Ashley Taylor, and they tacked on another in the second when Tiffany Smith scored from second on a single by Ashley Alverson. Eliasson got in a groove after the second run scored and retired 16 of the final 18 batters she faced.

In the nightcap, the Gamecocks got another solid pitching performance, this time from senior Karla Pittman. The North Canton, Ohio, native entered the game with the bases loaded and no one out in the third and struck out the side to put an end to the Govs' rally attempt. Pittman (3-1) went the final five innings and held the Lady Govs scoreless on two hits to earn the win in relief. Senior Melissa Dowling started and allowed a run on four hits over the first two innings.

Barker paced the Gamecock attack, going 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored in the finale. Prier was 2-for-4 in the win, blasting a two-run homer to center in the third.
Senior Kayla Collins drove in a pair of runs on her first-inning double.

Six Lady Govs scattered their hits in the game, with Krista Henke driving in their lone run. Abby Mabry (2-3) was tagged with the loss after giving up four runs on four hits in a total of 2.1 innings in the circle. Bolda saw 3.1 innings of action in relief and allowed four runs on three hits.

The Gamecocks will return to action on Thursday, when they host South Alabama in a single game at University Field at 2 p.m. CT. Admission is free for all fans.