MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – The Jacksonville State softball tea, dropped a pair of games on Friday in the first day of the Eastern Michigan Madeira Beach Spring Invitational.
 
The Gamecocks (4-4) dropped a 4-2 heartbreaker to Georgia Southern in the first game of the day before falling 8-0 to Abilene Christian in the nightcap.
 
The first game of the day saw JSU rally from two runs down late, only for the Eagles to plate a pair in the seventh to earn the win. The Gamecocks scattered seven hits, with senior Emily Woodruff going 2-for-3 to lead the way, while freshman Jada Terry drove in the team's two runs.
 
Georgia Southern scored a run in the fourth and another in the fifth to take a late 2-0 lead, but the Gamecocks battled back in the home half of the fifth. A leadoff double from Caitlyn Sapp and an infield single from Woodruff set up Terry, who laced a 2-0 pitch down the left field line to tie the game.
 
The Eagles won the game in the seventh after a leadoff single and a pair of walks set up Logan Harrell's two-run single to right that put the 4-2 score on the board.
 
Junior Faith Sims (3-1) suffered her first loss of the season for JSU after allowing four runs on seven hits and six walks in seven innings of work. She struck out five.
 
Kierra Camp (3-0) earned the win after limiting JSU to two runs on seven hits in her seven frames. She struck out six and walked one.
 
In the final game of the day, Abilene Christian's Hannah Null held the Gamecocks scoreless on two hits and struck out eight in her five-inning outing.
 
Freshman Hannahstaysia Weaver and junior Anna Snider had the Gamecocks' two hits, with Snider recording a double in her 1-for-2 day.
 
Junior Kirsten Titus (1-2) suffered the loss after giving up five runs on five hits and a pair of walks in three innings in the circle. Niclole Rodriguez tossed the final inning, allowing three runs on four hits and one walk.
 
JSU will continue play in the tournament on Saturday, when they face Lipscomb at 12:30 p.m. and UMass at 3 p.m.