JACKSONVILLE — Jacksonville State never gave up during its game against No. 2 Alabama, giving the largest crowd in University Field history a battle for six innings.
The Gamecocks endured back-to-back one-run innings before the Crimson Tide put a four spot during the fourth inning. Even so, it wasn't until Alabama's second four-run inning in the top of the seventh that Jacksonville State's 10-3 loss to the No. 2 team in the nation was all but sealed and the record 5,062 fans in attendance could slide off of the edge of their seats.
Kirsten Titus, a freshman out of Evans, Ga., got the start for
Jana McGinnis' Jacksonville State squad and went three full innings, but surrendered five hits and allowed three earned runs after 67 pitches.
Faith Sims struggled in her eighth appearance on the season, as the freshman gave up three earned runs in just a third of an inning during Alabama's first four-run innings.
Senior
Casey Akenberger followed Sims in the circle and went the final 3.2 innings of the game and was stellar in relief until allowing four runs—two earned—during the top of the seventh.
After falling behind two runs after the top of the third,
Taylor Sloan hit her first home run on the season with a solo shot over the right-center field fence. It was the first home run allowed by Alabama's Sydney Littlejohn this season.
Whitney Gillespie also got a hold of one during the bottom of the sixth, when she hit a two-run laser over the left field fence. It was, like Sloan, Gillespie's first home run on the young season.
Gillespie's home run was the only runs added to the scoreboard during the bottom of the sixth, but it wasn't the only action. Following the hit, Jacksonville State loaded the based and forced Alabama to bring in Madi Moore then closer Alexis Osorio just to close out the inning.
On the offensive side of things,
Stephanie Lewis,
Jamie McGuire and Sloan all finished with two hits in three at bats.
Ella Denes and Gillespie rounded out the hit column for the Gamecocks.
For Alabama (16-1), Andrea Hawkins had a four-for-four afternoon at the plate while Haylie McCleney, Demi Turner, Peyton Grantham, Leona Lafaele, Sydney Booker, Reagan Dykes, Marisa Runyon and Chandler Dare all recorded one hit. Booker and Lafaele had two RBIs while McCleney, Turner, Grantham and Dykes each had one.
While some things didn't go Jacksonville State's way Wednesday night, Sloan, who was the Gamecocks' third baseman a season ago, threw out McCleney when she attempted to steal second base during the top of the third inning. It was the first time this season she's been thrown out while attempting to steal a base.
Jacksonville State (7-8) will return to action Saturday with a doubleheader against another in-state opponent, as the Samford Bulldogs travel to University Field. The two teams will play a double-header with the first game scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
