GAME ONE FINAL STATS
GAME TWO FINAL STATS

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Jacksonville State softball team split a doubleheader on the final day of its three-game Ohio Valley Conference series at Tennessee State on Saturday afternoon.

The Gamecocks (17-9, 4-1 OVC) cruised to a 7-0 win in the opening game of the day before the Tigers (11-13, 3-3 OVC) got a walk-off home run in the bottom of the eighth to pull off a 3-2 extra-inning win. The loss in the nightcap snapped JSU's 15-game winning streak over teams from the OVC.

The Gamecocks put together nine hits in the opening game and were led by senior Allie Barker, who went 3-for-4 with two doubles, three RBI and two runs scored. The Gadsden, Ala., native also went 2-for-4 with a home run and a double in the final game of the day to run her batting average to a team-leading .429. Also, her solo home run in the finale made her the fourth player in school history to hit 30 career home runs, and it also made her the sixth player in JSU's history to drive in 100 runs in a career.

In the opener, senior Karla Pittman struck out eight batters en route to holding the Tigers scoreless on five hits in her seven innings in the circle. The North Canton, Ohio native earned the win to improve to 5-1 on the year. She tossed 2.2 innings in the nightcap and hasn't allowed an earned run in her last 24.1 innings of work, a streak that started on March 7 against Georgia Tech.

Barker got the Gamecocks started in the first game, doubling in junior Chrissy O'Neal in the first to give them a 1-0 lead. They tacked on another in the second on a double from senior Jackie Jarman. Barker drove in two in the fifth on her second two-bagger of the day, a drive into the gap in right center, and then scored on a double from junioe Nikki Prier in the ensuing at bat.

JSU got two insurance runs in the seventh, thanks to an RBI single from senior Courtney Underwood and a sacrifice fly from freshman Kaycee Crow, putting the game out of reach.

Megan Hedrick (3-6) took the loss for TSU after surrendering four runs on three hits and four walks in four innings of work. Kelly Troglin pitched the final three innings and allowed three runs, two earned, on six hits.

Jarman, a native of Edmond, Okla., and Underwood, a Hunstville native, each went 2-for-4 for the Gamecocks in the win.

In the series finale, Barker got things started again, this time with a solo homer to left in the first, giving the Gamecocks an early 1-0 advantage. The Tigers answered in the home half of the second, when Christy Hill's two-run double to right center gave TSU a 2-1 lead.

JSU junior Mary Beth Ledbetter tied the game at 2-2 in the fourth, when she singled through the right side to drive in freshman Allison Svoboda. The game would remain tied until Tamara Perkins' one-out solo homer to left handed TSU the win.

Svoboda and Barker were each 2-for-4 to pace the JSU offense in the loss, while Hill's two hits were a team high for the Tigers.

Caitlin Eaton (7-6) pitched all eight innings for Tennessee State and earned the win. She allowed two runs, one earned, on seven hits, while striking out five and walking two in her eight innings of work.

Sophomore Ashley Eliasson (5-4) suffered the loss in the circle for JSU, despite pitching three innings and allowing only one hit, Perkins' walk-off. The Vallejo, Calif., native was impressive, fanning six batters and walking none before giving up the game winner. Senior Melissa Dowling started the game and went just 1.2 innings and gave up two runs, one earned, on three hits. Pittman tossed the next 2.2 innings and allowed just three hits in the process.

Jacksonville State will return to action on Tuesday, when the Gamecocks travel to Chattanooga, Tenn., for a doubleheader with UTC. The first game will begin at 4 p.m. CT at Frost Park.