CHARLESTON, S.C. — Jacksonville State used timely hits and a gem in the circle from Faith Sims to open the Charleston Invitational with a 2-0 win over Georgetown on Friday.
 
The Gamecocks (10-12) and Hoyas (6-19) traded zeros for the game's first four innings as Sims limited the Hoyas to only three hits during that span. Alexus Jimmerson's single to start the second inning was JSU's only hit off Georgetown starting pitcher Anna Brooks Pacha until the top of the fifth. 
 
Anna Chisolm homered and Emily Woodruff singled in a run to lead the Gamecocks' offensive effort.
 
In just her second game of the season, Leila Chambers drew a five-pitch walk to start the top of the fifth. Hannahstaysia Weaver entered the game as a pinch-runner for Chambers. She immediately stole second base and advanced to third on a ground-ball out off the bat of Lex Hull and then scored on Woodruff's single that broke the scoreless tie.
 
Sims, now with the lead, returned to the circle in the bottom of the fifth to work around a one-out single. That gave = Chisolm an opportunity to extend the JSU lead with a solo home run on a 2-2 pitch to leadoff the Gamecock sixth. After allowing another one-out single, Sims induced back-to-back pop ups to Chisolm to send the game to the seventh. 
 
It was there things got interesting. 
 
As JSU was unable to capitalize on a leadoff walk by Chambers, Georgetown tried to break through against Sims. The Hoyas loaded the bases with no outs, but Sims got a pair of pop ups and grounder to escape the jam and preserve the shutout.
 
The two teams will meet again Saturday morning at 10 a.m. before the Gamecocks face Texas at 12:15 p.m. JSU will wrap up the tournament by playing host school College of Charleston on Sunday at 11:15 a.m.