Gamecocks Shut Out TSU, Sweep Series To Open OVC Play

Sunday, March 17

JACKSONVILLE

1 p.m.

Jacksonville State University

16-10, 3-0

TENNESSEE STATE

9-19, 0-3

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Tennessee State	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	2
Jacksonville State	3	0	1	0	0	1	X	5	11	0

3/17/2013 3:46:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State softball team scored three runs in the first inning and never looked back in a 5-0 win over Tennessee State that capped a Gamecock sweep in the first conference series of the season for both teams.

Senior Kelci Johnston went 2-for-3 with four RBI at the plate and junior Tiffany Harbin tossed a complete-game shutout to lead the Gamecocks (16-10, 3-0 Ohio Valley Conference) to a series sweep in their conference opener for the third-straight year. They have now won 12 straight against the Tigers (9-19, 0-3 OVC) and are now 25-3 in the all-time series with TSU.

Just one day after Harbin (9-4) no-hit the Tigers in the series opener, the Hazel Green, Ala., native went to work again. She held the Tigers hitless for the first two innings on Sunday before a two-out infield single in the third inning broke up any chance at another no-hitter. She allowed six hits in her seven scoreless innings but struck out 10 batters in her eighth complete game and third shutout of the season.

Johnston got things going for JSU in the first inning with a two-out, bases-clearing bloop double to right that plated three runs and gave the Gamecocks an early 3-0 lead.

That would be enough for Harbin, who struck out at least one batter in every inning, but the Gamecocks added an insurance run in the third and another in the sixth to make it a 5-0 decision.

Johnston was responsible for the fourth run, as well, thanks to an RBI single in that third inning. Senior Jessica Guy drove in the final run in the sixth on a bases-loaded ground ball that drove in fellow senior Cara Longworth after her pinch-hit single to lead off the inning.

Guy and senior Krystal Ruth each went 2-for-4 in the win, while sophomore Sara Borders belted her OVC-leading 11th double of the season and scored two runs in a 1-for-3 afternoon.

Olivia Gamache (3-10) took her second loss of the weekend for the Tigers, surrendering five runs, only two earned, on 11 hits in six innings in the circle.

The Tigers got a 2-for-3 game from Kiarra Freeman, who came close to scoring a run for her team. After an Ashley Haynes double in the sixth, Freeman easily got to the plate before the relay made it in from right, but catcher Savannah Sloan denied Freeman access to the plate and applied the tag to preserve the shutout for the Gamecocks.

JSU will play a non-conference game at Georgia State on Tuesday. The first pitch is set for 4 p.m. CT in Atlanta.