GAME 1 STATS  |  GAME 2 STATS

JACKSONVILLE – A sixth-run sixth inning lifted the Jacksonville State softball team to an 8-5 win in the nightcap and salvaged a split in Saturday's Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader with Southeast Missouri.

After the Redhawks (9-17, 5-3 OVC) rallied for a 7-6 win in the first game of the day, the Gamecocks (22-8, 9-1 OVC) got a two-run home run by sophomore Kelci Johnston and a grand slam by senior Amanda Crow to erase a three-run deficit and pull off the win. The loss in the opener was JSU's first to an OVC foe since April 10 of last season, snapping a 19-game winning streak against league foes.

Crow, a native of Sharpsburg, Ga., also homered in the early game to spark a 3-for-6 day that saw her drive in six runs. The day ran her season RBI total to an OVC-best 33 and gives her an OVC-leading 10 home runs. Junior Kristin Graham homered, doubled and drove in three runs in a 3-for-5 day at the plate.

In that final game of the twinbill, the Redhawks picked up where they left off in their opening game win. They got a pair of runs in the first to jump out to a 2-0 lead and used a pair of home runs from Nicole Troncoso and Shelby Kuryllo to jump out to a 5-1 lead in the top of the third.

The Gamecocks, who answered the two-run first with a bases loaded walk to senior Sallie Beth Burch, got another one back in the home half of the third on Graham's solo blast, the ninth homer of the year for the native of Warner Robins, Ga. Sophomore Hilary Phillips came on to relieve starter Tiffany Harbin, who struggled in giving up five runs on six hits in 2.2 innings of work.

Phillips (4-0), a native of Ider, Ala., held the Redhawks scoreless on two hits and struck out three in the final 4.1 innings of the game, setting herself up to earn the win after JSU's rally.

That big sixth inning started with a leadoff walk to junior Kaycee Crow to set up Johnston's blast that cut the SEMO lead to 5-4. Sophomore Krystal Ruth and freshman Hayden Crawford then singled before pitcher Alora Marble walked Graham to set up Amanda Crow's opposite field game winner.

Marble (4-4), who started the game in the circle for SEMO and re-entered to serve up Crow's grand slam, was tagged with the loss after allowing five runs on five hits and three walks in two innings of work.

In the first game of the day, the two exchanged two-run homers in the first inning, as Amanda Crow answered Renee Kertz' to tie it at 2-2 after one. JSU jumped out to a 4-2 lead in the second on a two-run homer from Ruth, who went 3-for-6 in the twinbill.

After SEMO battled back with a run in each the third and fourth innings to tie, Graham putt JSU back on top with a two-run double in the bottom of the fourth but couldn't hold the lead in the circle.

After senior Ashley Eliasson gave up one in the sixth, she gave up a pair of unearned runs in the seventh that gave the Redhawks the lead for good.

Marble earned the win for Southeast Missouri after holding the Gamecocks scoreless on six hits in 3.2 innings of work. Graham (3-1) suffered the loss after surrendering two unearned runs on two hits in 1.1 innings of work.

The two will wrap up the series at 1 p.m. Sunday with the rubber game at University Field. Admission is free.