OXFORD – The Jacksonville State softball team couldn't capitalize on opportunities in a two-game split at the Leon Smith Classic at Choccolocco Park on Friday.
 
The Gamecocks (12-7) rallied to win the first game 4-2 over Missouri State before dropping a 4-2 decision to Loyola-Chicago in the second game. JSU stranded 22 runners on the day, including 10 in the opener against the Bears (8-8) and 12 in the finale with the Ramblers (15-3).
 
In the first game, the Bears put a run on the board in the top of the first after stringing together three singles that gave them an early lead.
 
The Gamecocks threatened in every inning before finally capitalizing in the fourth. After putting at least one runner in scoring position in each of the first four frames, Anna Chisolm delivered a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the fourth that scored Whitney Gillespie after her pinch-hit single.
 
The Bears reclaimed the lead in the top of the sixth on a bases loaded walk. West's 3-1 pitch was called outside and gift-wrapped the go-ahead run for MSU.
 
Chisolm stepped up again, this time following singles from Taylor Rogers and Emily Woodruff with an RBI double off of the base of the wall in left. The two-bagger tied the game at 2-2 and set up McGuire's two-run double to left center.
 
West worked around a leadoff walk and a single in the seventh to preserve the win. She improves to 6-2 after holding the Bears to two runs on 11 hits in seven frames. She struck out eight and walked four.
 
Kaitlin Beason (5-4) suffered the loss for MSU, allowing four runs, three earned on 11 hits in six innings of work. She struck out seven and didn't issue a walk.
 
In the second game of the day, JSU threatened throughout the day but couldn't push enough offense across the plate. The Gamecocks put runners on in every inning but stranded 12 over the game, including the tying run in scoring position in the seventh.
 
JSU scored an early run on a McGuire single in the first, but the Ramblers tied it in the fourth. Loyola's first hit of the day off of JSU starter Gillespie drove in the tying run, which reached on one of JSU's two errors in the game.
 
The Gamecocks jumped right back on top on a bases-loaded single by Stephanie Lewis that plated Emily Woodruff and gave JSU a 2-1 lead.
 
The home half of the sixth was the difference. The Ramblers scored three runs to build a 4-2 lead that JSU wouldn't be able to overcome. Jax State put runners at second and third with two outs in the seventh, but as Taylor Rogers' grounder tried to sneak through the middle of the infield, Lewis collided with the Loyola shortstop to end the game on an interference call.
 
Gillespie (4-4) suffered the loss after allowing four runs, only three earned, on four hits in six innings. She did strike out seven batters and didn't issue a walk.
 
Ramblers reliever Kiley Jones (8-1) earned the win in relief, holding JSU to a run on five hits in three innings in the circle.
 
The Gamecocks continue play in the Leon Smith Classic on Saturday, when they take on Samford at 1 p.m. on Choccolocco Park's signature field.