COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Jacksonville State grabbed a 2-1 win in the opener and dropped a 3-1 decision in the nightcap in a doubleheader sweep at Tennessee Tech on Saturday. The two will play the rubber game of the softball series Sunday.
 
A two-run single from Stephanie Lewis and a gem from Taylor West propelled the Gamecocks (26-12, 9-4 Ohio Valley Conference) to the game one win, while a hot start from the Golden Eagles (23-20, 10-6 OVC) proved too much in the second game.
 
In the first game of the day, a second-inning single from Lewis drove in Savannah Sloan and Cadi Oliver and would be all the offense West would need.
 
The sophomore from Anniston held TTU to just a run on six hits and a pair of walks, while striking pout four in the win. West (8-4) needed just 93 pitches in her complete game. The only blemish on the scoreboard came in the third on an Angie Sakamoto RBI double that cut JSU's lead in half.
 
Savannah Sloan had two hits, including a double, to lead the Gamecocks, while Sakamoto had two for the Golden Eagles.
 
Tech ace Danielle Liberatore (13-8) suffered the loss after allowing two unearned runs on five hits in seven frames in the circle. She struck out six and walked one.
 
In the second game, TTU got a run in the first and two in the second to create a 3-0 lead it wouldn't relinquish. The Gamecocks managed a run in the fifth, when Taylor Sloan's sac fly drove in Savannah Sloan after her leadoff double.
 
Senior Sara Borders collected two hits in the loss, while Sabrie Neeb went 2-for-3 to lead the Golden Eagles.
 
Erica Tuck (3-1) grabbed the win after holding JSU to a run on five hits in 4.2 innings of work. Liberatore grabbed her second save of the year after allowing three hits in 21 scoreless innings of relief.
 
The two teams will play for the series on Sunday at 1 p.m.