Saturday, March 24
JACKSONVILLE
1 p.m.
Jax State
5
vs
4
EASTERN KENTUCKY - Game 1
Sara Borders went 6-for-8 on Saturday for the Gamecocks
3/24/2012 8:24:00 PM | Softball
GAME 1 BOX SCORE | GAME 2 BOX SCORE
JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State softball team used some late-inning heroics to snag a 5-4 win in the first game before Eastern Kentucky claimed an 8-4 win in the nightcap to split an Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader at University Field on Saturday.
Freshman Sara Borders went 6-for-8 for the Gamecocks (13-16, 8-2 OVC), including a 4-for-4 effort in the opener that saw her come through with two clutch at bats late. The Alexandria, Ala., native doubled, walked and singled in her first three plate appearances before taking the Colonels (12-14, 5-2 OVC) deep with a game-tying home run in the bottom of the seventh.
Trailing 3-1 in the seventh, the Gamecocks got a leadoff single from pinch hitter Abbey Stepp that set up Borders' game-tying shot. She swung at Leanna Pittsenbarger's first pitch and drove it deep to center to force extra innings. The Colonels reclaimed the lead with a solo homer from Katie Tackett in the eighth, setting up some two-out magic from the Gamecocks.
After the first two batters of the extra frame were retired, sophomore Hayden Crawford got things started with a single up the middle, and then Borders doubled off of the wall in left. Senior Kaycee Crow stepped in and delivered the game winner, a two-run single to the gap in right center.
Senior Sam Snow (5-4) nabbed the win in relief, throwing a perfect eighth after sophomore Tiffany Harbin tossed the first seven. Harbin gave up four runs on seven hits in her seven frames. She walked four and struck out nine.
Pittsenbarger threw the first 6.1 innings for the Colonels, giving up three runs on six hits. Shaylon Robb (4-7) suffered the loss after surrendering two runs on three hits in the final 1.1 innings of work.
Diane Gallagher went 2-for-4 to lead EKU at the plate, while Borders' 4-for-4 game featured two doubles, a homer, a walk and two runs scored. She racked up nine total bases and was the only JSU player with multiple hits.
In the final game of the day, EKU grabbed a pair of runs in the third and led the rest of the way. A two-run single from Shannon McQueen gave the Colonels the 2-0 lead, one she would extend to 3-0 on a sacrifice fly in the fifth.
Crow led off the home half of the fifth with a homer that got JSU on the board, and the Gamecocks cut the deficit to one run later in the inning when Tyris Branford scored on a wild pitch.
EKU grabbed some insurance with a four-run sixth before a two-run double from Crow accounted for JSU's final two runs.
Crow, Borders, Crawford and junior Jessica guy each recorded two hits in the loss, while the rest of the JSU lineup combined to go 1-for-15.
Junior Hilary Phillips (1-3) suffered the loss in the circle after surrendering two runs on three hits in three innings. Snow allowed four runs, two earned, on four hits in two innings before being making way for sophomore Savanna Hennings to toss the final two frames. She gave up two runs, one earned, on four hits.
Robb (5-7) went the distance for EKU to earn the win, allowing four runs on nine hits in the process. Gallagher, Christina Ciolek and Lauren Mitchell each notched two hits in the win for EKU.
The two teams will play the rubber game of the three-game series on Sunday at 1 p.m. at University Field. Admission is free.
JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State softball team used some late-inning heroics to snag a 5-4 win in the first game before Eastern Kentucky claimed an 8-4 win in the nightcap to split an Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader at University Field on Saturday.
Freshman Sara Borders went 6-for-8 for the Gamecocks (13-16, 8-2 OVC), including a 4-for-4 effort in the opener that saw her come through with two clutch at bats late. The Alexandria, Ala., native doubled, walked and singled in her first three plate appearances before taking the Colonels (12-14, 5-2 OVC) deep with a game-tying home run in the bottom of the seventh.
Trailing 3-1 in the seventh, the Gamecocks got a leadoff single from pinch hitter Abbey Stepp that set up Borders' game-tying shot. She swung at Leanna Pittsenbarger's first pitch and drove it deep to center to force extra innings. The Colonels reclaimed the lead with a solo homer from Katie Tackett in the eighth, setting up some two-out magic from the Gamecocks.
After the first two batters of the extra frame were retired, sophomore Hayden Crawford got things started with a single up the middle, and then Borders doubled off of the wall in left. Senior Kaycee Crow stepped in and delivered the game winner, a two-run single to the gap in right center.
Senior Sam Snow (5-4) nabbed the win in relief, throwing a perfect eighth after sophomore Tiffany Harbin tossed the first seven. Harbin gave up four runs on seven hits in her seven frames. She walked four and struck out nine.
Pittsenbarger threw the first 6.1 innings for the Colonels, giving up three runs on six hits. Shaylon Robb (4-7) suffered the loss after surrendering two runs on three hits in the final 1.1 innings of work.
Diane Gallagher went 2-for-4 to lead EKU at the plate, while Borders' 4-for-4 game featured two doubles, a homer, a walk and two runs scored. She racked up nine total bases and was the only JSU player with multiple hits.
In the final game of the day, EKU grabbed a pair of runs in the third and led the rest of the way. A two-run single from Shannon McQueen gave the Colonels the 2-0 lead, one she would extend to 3-0 on a sacrifice fly in the fifth.
Crow led off the home half of the fifth with a homer that got JSU on the board, and the Gamecocks cut the deficit to one run later in the inning when Tyris Branford scored on a wild pitch.
EKU grabbed some insurance with a four-run sixth before a two-run double from Crow accounted for JSU's final two runs.
Crow, Borders, Crawford and junior Jessica guy each recorded two hits in the loss, while the rest of the JSU lineup combined to go 1-for-15.
Junior Hilary Phillips (1-3) suffered the loss in the circle after surrendering two runs on three hits in three innings. Snow allowed four runs, two earned, on four hits in two innings before being making way for sophomore Savanna Hennings to toss the final two frames. She gave up two runs, one earned, on four hits.
Robb (5-7) went the distance for EKU to earn the win, allowing four runs on nine hits in the process. Gallagher, Christina Ciolek and Lauren Mitchell each notched two hits in the win for EKU.
The two teams will play the rubber game of the three-game series on Sunday at 1 p.m. at University Field. Admission is free.
Saturday, March 14
Saturday, March 14
Wednesday, March 11
Thursday, February 19
