RUSTON, La. – Senior
Casey Akenberger tossed a 5-hit shutout to lead the Jacksonville State softball team to a 5-0 win over Liberty before a 4-0 loss to Louisiana Tech capped a split on the final day of the La Tech Classic Saturday.
In the opener against Liberty, the Gamecock offense gave Akenberger plenty of support. While JSU was scoring five runs on seven hits, the Bowling Green, Ohio, native was busy shutting down the Flames and handing them their first loss of the weekend.
Akenberger (2-1) tossed her second career complete-game shutout and her first seven-inning shut out, allowing just five hits and walking just one. She struck out two in the win.
Jordan Bullock went 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI, while
Taylor Sloan's 2-for-3 game saw her score a run. Junior
Emily Church used a two-run double lead the Gamecocks with a pair of RBI.
Bullock scored the game's first run in the third, when her leadoff double set up an
Emily Woodruff sac fly. Church made it a 3-0 game with a two-run double in the fifth, and then back-to-back doubles from
Cadi Oliver and
Hayley Sims, followed by an RBI single from Bullock put the 5-0 score on the board in the sixth.
Chase Cassady (3-3) sufferd the loss after allowing three runs on three hits and five walks in 4 1/3 innings of work. Chandler Ball gave up the other two runs on four hits in 2/3 innings.
In the final game of the day, La Tech's Bailey Allen (4-3) held JSU scoreless on four hits in her complete game shutout. She struck out three and walked one to beat
Taylor West (3-2), who allowed four runs, two earned, on four hits in three innings. Freshman
Kirsten Titus tossed the final three frames, holding the Lady Techsters scoreless on two hits.
JSU scattered its four hits, with junior
Stephanie Lewis recording the team's lone extra base hit with a double.
JSU now heads home, where it will host Alabama on Wednesday in the Gamecocks' home opener. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. at University Field. For tickets, fans can visit www.jsugamecocksports.com or call the JSU Athletic Ticket Office at 256-782-8499. Admission is free for JSU Students and fans ages 18 and under.
