JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State softball team turned to its seniors on Senior Day, when they set the early tone for a 9-0 mercy-rule win and the series sweep over Eastern Kentucky.
 
The Gamecocks (36-16, 18-6 Ohio Valley Conference) three seniors, Sara Borders, Savannah Sloan and Melanie Steer, went 3-for-3 with five RBI in the first inning to start the rout of the Colonels (23-26, 13-10 OVC). It was the second-straight mercy-rule win by JSU in the series and propelled the Gamecocks into next week's conference tournament as the No. 2 seed having won five in a row and 10 of their last 11.
 
They will open the tournament against No. 7 seed Southeast Missouri on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. in Edwardsville, Ill. All of JSU's games in the tournament will be broadcast live on the Gamecock Sports Network on 91.9 FM in Jacksonville, on www.jsugamecocksports.com and on mobile devices through the TuneIn app. Video of the games will also be streamed on the OVC Digital Network.
 
On Sunday, Sloan got the big first inning started with a one-out double that came after an illegal pitch called on EKU ace Leanna Pittsenbarger extended her at bat after a pop up to short. Her gapper to left center set up Borders' RBI single to right, but a Cadi Oliver single and a walk to Stephanie Lewis set up the inning's big blow.
 
Steer fouled off two pitches before driving Pittsenbarger's 1-2 pitch over the wall in left center to put JSU up 5-1. The Scarborough, Ontario, native's first career grand slam capped the big first inning and staked JSU starter Logan Green to an early lead.
 
Green (13-5) worked out of trouble early after a pair of errors over the first two innings forced her to strand runners in scoring position in each of the first three frames. She cruised down the stretch and notched her second shutout of the season. She limited the Colonels to four hits, while striking out four and walking none.
 
Her offense continued to provide support, grabbing three runs in the second, thanks to a solo homer from Ella Denes and a two-run double from Lewis. An EKU error allowed another un to score in the third.
 
Pittsenbarger (10-12) suffered her second loss of the series after surrendering five runs on four hits and a walk, while Shaylon Robb allowed four runs, three earned, on three hits in 1 1/3 innings. Alex Sallberg tossed the final 1 2/3 innings, striking out two while facing the minimum.