FINAL STATS

JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State softball team jumped out to an early lead but fielding miscues proved costly on Thursday, when South Alabama claimed a 6-2 non-conference win over the Gamecocks at University Field.

Senior Allie Barker belted a two-run home run in the first inning to put the Gamecocks (15-8) up 2-0, but mistakes led to five unearned runs for the Jaguars (13-15-1) in their second win in six all-time meetings with JSU.

Barker got the Gamecocks off on the right foot with her 29th career homer and the sixth of the season for the Gadsden, Ala., native. The towering shot over the left field wall scored junior Mary Beth Ledbetter, who went 3-for-3 with a double and a walk to lead the JSU offense. The three hits tied a career high for the Southside, Ala., native and accounted for almost half of the team's seven total hits.

The Jaguars used a five-run third to take control of the game, an inning that featured four unearned runs and was capped by a grand slam from Kalin Lassiter. The inning was prolonged after a sacrifice bunt from Katie McGuire was misplayed by third baseman Allison Svoboda. Svoboda made her second error of the day in the fifth on a leadoff ground ball from Carolina Mendoza, who eventually scored to give USA the deciding 6-2 advantage.

Beth Pilgrim (8-7) and Katy Neal were able to hold the JSU bats at bay to earn the win and the save, respectively. Pilgrim allowed the two runs on four hits over the first four innings, while Neal earned her first save of the season with three innings of three-hit softball.

Senior Kayla Collins started the game for the Gamecocks and surrendered three unearned runs on two hits in just over two innings of work. Junior Kelly McGregor (2-1) took the loss after allowing three unearned runs on two hits in an inning in the circle. Senior Karla Pittman went the final four innings for JSU, holding the Jaguars to an unearned run on two hits.

The Gamecocks will travel to Nashville, Tenn., where they will face Tennessee State in a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series that will start on Friday at 4 p.m. CT. The two will wrap up the series with a doubleheader on Saturday at 12 p.m. CT.