SAND DOLLAR CLASSIC TOURNAMENT CENTRAL

Friday, Feb. 10
12:30 p.m. - Alabama State vs. Jacksonville State - LIVE STATS
3 p.m. - Jacksonville State vs. Central Arkansas - LIVE STATS
Saturday, Feb. 11
3 p.m. - Central Arkansas vs Jacksonville State - LIVE STATS
5:30 p.m. - South Alabama vs. Jacksonville State - LIVE STATS - LIVE VIDEO
Sunday, Feb. 12
12:30 p.m. - Jacksonville State vs. Houston Baptist - LIVE STATS

MOBILE – The Jacksonville State softball team gets the 2017 season underway on Friday when the Gamecocks open play in the Sand Dollar Classic at the University of South Alabama.
 
The defending Ohio Valley Conference champion Gamecocks begin their quest for the 2017 crown in the five-team event at Jaguar Field. They will play two games on the first day of the three-day event, beginning with the 12:30 p.m. season opener against Alabama State. JSU will then face Central Arkansas at 3 p.m.
 
The Gamecocks, picked to win the 2017 OVC title, will take on UCA again at 3 p.m. Saturday before matching up with the host Jaguars at 5:30 p.m. Jax State will conclude play in the tourney on Sunday with a 12:30 p.m. game against Houston Baptist.
 
Friday's opener will pit the two 2016 NCAA Tournament teams against each other, with JSU coming off its runner-up finish in the Auburn Regional. Alabama State won the Southwestern Athletic Conference crown to advance to the Gainesville Regional. It will be the 15th meeting between the Gamecocks and Hornets, with Jax State winning each of the previous 14. The last meeting was a 12-3 JSU win in Montgomery on March 23, 2016.
 
The only other foe in the event that JSU has faced before is South Alabama, who the Gamecocks hold a 4-2 lead over in the all-time series. The two haven't met since 2009, however, when the Jaguars took a 6-2 decision in Jacksonville on March 19.
 
JSU enters the 2017 season after an historic 2016 campaign. The Gamecocks went 43-17 and posted a perfect 26-0 record in league play last season to extend the longest active conference win streak in Division I to 30 games. The Gamecocks wrapped up the season with their fifth regular season title and fifth OVC Tournament title.
 
The Gamecocks swept the OVC's major awards, with Jana McGinnis winning the OVC Coach of the Year honor and Whitney Gillespie earning OVC Pitcher of the Year accolades. JSU's lone senior position player last year, Ella Denes, was the OVC Player of the Year.
 
Gillespie returns for the 2017 season as a junior that led the league in earned run average (1.13), shutouts (9) and opponents batting average (.163), while striking out 127 batters. She led the Gamecocks to the championship game of the NCAA Auburn Regional before falling to the national runner-up Tigers one game shy of the Super Regionals.
 
Also back for the Gamecocks are catcher Jamie McGuire, center fielder Emily Woodruff and designated hitter Emily Church, who were all First Team All-OVC players a year ago. Taylor West returns to the circle after earning Second Team All-OVC honors.
 
The Gamecocks get a veteran presence back in infielder Cadi Oliver, who started every game at shortstop for over three years before an injury abruptly ended her 2016 season. Oliver returns after receiving a medical redshirt and will join sophomore Anna Chisolm in the race at short after Chisolm claimed OVC All-Newcomer honors last season.
 
A group of six newcomers will look to mix into the rotation on JSU's veteran-laden roster. Four high school signees in pitcher Alexus Jimmerson, outfielders Torre Roberts and Aryan Williams and utility player Ryann Luna will look to add depth for JSU right away. Infielder Amber Jones transferred from Troy and outfielder Taylor Rogers returns to the softball field after injuries forced her to put up her cleats for three years.