LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – A complete-game one-hitter from freshman Faith Sims lifted the Jacksonville State softball team to a 3-1 win over Omaha and a split at the Diamond 9 Citrus Classic after an 8-0 loss to No. 13 Missouri.
 
Sims, a native of Cordova, limited the Mavs to one hit in her first career complete game and also earned her first career win. The victory earned the Gamecocks (3-3) a split on the opening day of the tournament held at Walt Disney World's Wide World of Sports Complex. The day started with an 8-0 loss to No. 13 Missouri.
 
While Sims was striking out eight Mavs batters, the Gamecock offense scattered nine hits and used a two-run single from Emily Church that broke a scoreless tie in the fifth inning.
 
Church, a junior from Ragland, Ala., had two RBIs on what was eventually the game-winning hit, while sophomore Whitney Gillespie drew a bases loaded walk later in the fifth to drive in JSU's other run.
 
Senior Ella Denes was 3-for-4 with a double to lead the Gamecocks at the plate, while junior Jamie McGuire went 2-for-4.
 
Sims (1-0) did issue eight walks in the win and allowed a double to Campbell Ditto that set up the Mavs' lone run on a Megan May ground out in the bottom of the sixth.
 
Lizzie Noble (3-1) suffered the loss in the circle for Omaha after surrendering three runs n eight hits and a pair of walks in 4 1/3 innings. Abbie Clanton allowed one hit and a walk in 2 2/3 innings of relief work.
 
In the opening game of the day, the 13th-ranked Tigers used a six-run fourth to break open the game and grabbed the mercy-rule win in the fifth inning.
 
A solo homer by Sami Fagan in the first gave Mizzou an early lead and the big fourth put the Tigers in control. A three-run blast by Rylee Pierce was the big blow in the inning.
 
Paige Lowary (1-0) controlled the game in the circle for Mizzou, striking out four and holding JSU to two hits in four innings. Taylor West (1-1) suffered the loss after giving up five runs on three hits n three innings in the circle. Freshman Kirsten Titus allowed three runs on three hits and struck out two in two innings of relief.
 
The Gamecocks will continue play in the tournament on Saturday, when they face College of Charleston at 12:15 p.m. CT before taking on No. 10 Georgia at 4:45 p.m. CT.