JSU-UAB FINAL STATS  |  JSU-ASU FINAL STATS

VESTAVIA HILLS, Ala. – The Jacksonville State softball team got its season off on the right foot on Friday at the Hibbett/Easton All-Alabama Classic with a 5-4 win over UAB and a 10-1 rout of Alabama State at Birmingham's Liberty Park.

The Gamecocks (2-0) watched juniors Abbey Stepp and Kaycee Crow combine to go 5-for-6 with two home runs, two doubles and five RBI in the opening win over UAB and then used a seven-run first to cruise past the Hornets.

Stepp, a native of Versailles, Ky., went 4-for-5 with a double, home run, sacrifice fly, four runs scored and three RBI on her first day with the Gamecocks. The transfer from Volunteer State Community College picked up where she left off after finishing second in the nation with a .526 batting average a year ago. She, Crow and senior Amanda Crow each homered and drove in three runs apiece on the day.

In the opener, Stepp made her first at bat in Division I softball count, depositing Alisha Smith's 3-1 pitch over the wall in left center. The blast followed a leadoff single and stolen base by freshman Tyris Branford in her first collegiate at bat and gave the Gamecocks a quick 2-0 lead.

The Blazers evened things up in the bottom of the first inning on a two-run double from Kate Armstrong, and things stayed that way until the top of the third. Kaycee Crow got her first hit of the season then, a double to right that followed a double from Stepp and gave the Gamecocks a 3-2 advantage.

UAB would tie it in the fifth on a Kayla Orr single, but Stepp and Crow put the game out of reach in the sixth. Stepp led off the frame with her third hit in as many at bats, a single to right that set up Crow's second hit, a two-run homer to center.

The Blazers got one back in the home half of the seventh off of sophomore Hilary Phillips and loaded the bases before Erica Sisson popped out to end the threat. Phillips (1-0) earned the win in three innings of relief of freshman Tiffany Harbin. Phillips allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits and three walks, while Harbin surrendered two runs on five hits in four innings in the circle.

Alisha Smith (0-1) was tagged with the loss for the Blazers after allowing all five runs on six hits in five innings. Leigh Streetman entered after Crow's sixth-inning homer and worked a hitless two innings to finish the game.

In the final game of the day, the Gamecocks used a seven-run first inning to set the tone in the mercy-rule win. Stepp drove in the first run of the game with a sacrifice fly that plated Branford. Harbin and Amanda Crow follwed with RBI singles, setting up a two-run single from freshman Hayden Crawford. A pair of passed balls scored two more to cap the big inning.

ASU got one in the fourth on a solo homer by Meagan Dixon, but watched the Gamecocks score three in the bottom of the inning to set up the mercy rule. Junior Katie Matchen's sacrifice fly drove the first one in and Amanda Crow's two-run home run plated the final two runs of the night.

Freshman Savanna Hennings (1-0) allowed just one run on three hits over five innings of work in her collegiate debut. The Springville, Ala., native struck out nine Hornet batters to earn the shortened complete-game win. Stephanie Hernandez (0-1) suffered the loss for ASU after giving up seven runs, four earned, on four hits and two walks in one inning in the circle.

The Gamecocks will continue play in the three-day tournament on Saturday, when they take on Alabama A&M at 11 a.m. and No. 8 Alabama at 4 p.m.