JSU Opens OVC Schedule, Busy Week at Home on Saturday

Saturday, March 25

JACKSONVILLE

1 p.m.

Jacksonville State University

UT Martin

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3/24/2017 7:47:00 PM | Softball

LIVE COVERAGE
Saturday - JSU vs. UT Martin
LIVE AUDIO
LIVE STATS: GAME 1 - GAME 2

Sunday - JSU vs. SE Missouri
LIVE AUDIO
LIVE STATS: GAME 1 - GAME 2

JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State softball team gets Ohio Valley Conference play at home this weekend, when the Gamecocks host a pair of doubleheaders to begin a busy week at University Field.

A 1 p.m. doubleheader against UT Martin on Saturday will open the 2017 OVC slate and a stretch of eight home games for the Gamecocks in eight days. The defending OVC champs will also host a twinbill at 1 p.m. on Sunday against Southeast Missouri before non-conference games against Alabama State and Ole Miss on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. The week will conclude with two games against Murray State next Saturday.

The Gamecocks (18-8, 0-0 OVC) enter the 2017 conference season with a target on their backs after going unbeaten in league play in 2016 to win the title and extend the second-longest active conference win streak in the nation to 30 games. They were the preseason pick to repeat as OVC champions by the league's head coaches and Sports Information Directors.

JSU enters league play having won eight of its last 10 games, including an 8-0 mercy-rule win at Alabama A&M on Wednesday. The Gamecocks lead the OVC and rank 17th nationally with a 1.67 earned run average, while also ranking 43rd nationally in team batting average (.313).

That pitching staff has been keyed by the performance of reigning OVC Pitcher of the Year Whitney Gillespie and 2016 All-OVC pitcher Taylor West. Gillespie's 1.37 ERA is second in the OVC so far in 2017, while West is seventh in the league with a 1.54 ERA.

Sophomore Anna Chisolm has led the way for the JSU offense, batting .407 with 28 runs scored and an OVC-best 27 RBI. Her six homers lead JSU. Six Gamecock starters are batting above .300 on the season.

The Skyhawks (20-7, 0-0 OVC) come into the twinbill against the OVC's best pitching staff with the league's best batting average. UTM is hitting .329 as a unit, led y Renate Meckll's .398 clip. Carly Gonzalez leads the league in walks (22) and runs scored (31).

Live audio of all four games this weekend will be available for free at https://network1sports.com/station/jacksonvillestate. Admission is free for JSU students and all fans ages 18 and under to all JSU home softball games.