Box Score

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JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State softball team used the long ball to back ace Tiffany Harbin on Tuesday night, when the Gamecocks grabbed an 8-4 win over Ball State in their home opener at University Field.

The Gamecocks (14-5) hit three home runs and got a complete game against a Cardinals (12-5) team that entered the night ranked third in the nation in batting average. Harbin had trouble in the fifth, when BSU scored all four of its runs on four hits but limited the potent lineup the rest of the night.

The senior struck out three and walked one to grab her 63rd career win, one away from Jill Wilcoxson's school record of 64. It was her 68th career complete game, also second-most in school history. She had to get it against a lineup that entered the game with six everyday players hitting .388 or higher and with a .354 team average.

After Harbin and Cardinal starter Kelsey Schifferdecker traded zeroes on the scoreboard over the first three and a half innings, the Gamecocks used a little small ball to take the first lead of the game. They loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth before a pinch-hit single from freshman Jamie McGuire broke the scoreless tie. Another freshman made it a 2-0 game when Stephanie Lewis' one-out grounder to short allowed another run to score.

Ball State answered quickly, loading the bases with no outs in the top of the fifth before getting RBI singles from Loren Schilar and Emily Dobkowski and a Taylor Rager two-run double that gave the Cardinals a 4-2 lead.

JSU answered just as quickly and in a big way in the bottom of the fifth, when Sara Borders' team-leading seventh homer of the year followed a Taylor Sloan leadoff single tied it back up and chased Schifferdecker from the circle.

The rally continued after Sammi Cowger entered with a Kalee Tabor walk and  a bunt single from Savannah Sloan that set up an Amanda Maldonado three-run blast that curled just inside the left field foul pole. Her  fourth homer of the year put Harbin and the Gamecocks back on top 7-4.

JSU wasn't done with the long ball in the sixth, when sophomore Ella Denes' second homer of the year led off the frame and chased Cowger. The insurance run gave Harbin a four-run cushion and set up a one-two-three seventh inning that closed the door.

Harbin (4-3) finished the game allowing four runs, three earned, on seven hits to grab the win. Cowger (1-1) suffered the loss after surrendering four runs on three hits and a walk. Schifferdecker gave up four runs on eight hits and struck out three but didn't get a decision.

Borders, Taylor Sloan and Savannah Sloan each recorded two hits in the game for JSU, who totaled 11 hits off the Cardinals pitchers. Eight different players touched the plate for JSU.

The Gamecocks open Ohio Valley Conference play on Saturday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader against Tennessee Tech at University Field. The twinbill will begin a three-game series that will conclude with a 1 p.m. single game on Sunday. Admission is free for all JSU students and fans ages 18 and under.