BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Jacksonville State softball team dropped a 6-2 decision at Western Kentucky on Thursday afternoon.
 
The Hilltoppers (19-11) scored three runs n the first and again in the fourth, both innings that were started by errors by the Gamecocks (11-15). WKU pulled away for the win and handed JSU a defeat in its first game since a tornado ravaged the Gamecocks home field, campus and community.
 
The Gamecocks got a solo homer from senior Leila Chambers and an RBI double from senior Caitlyn Sapp to account for both JSU runs. Fellow Senior Emily Woodruff and junior Amber Jones singled to record JSU's other two hits in the game.
 
A pair of errors started the bottom of eth first and led to a three-run frame that was highlighted by a two-run double from Brittany Vaughn.
 
JSU got on the board in the fourth on Chambers' solo blast to right center. The second homer of the season from the Molena, Ga., native cut the deficit to 3-1.
 
The Hilltoppers had an immediate answer, scoring three more in the home half of that inning and pulling out to a 6-1 lead.
 
Jones' single to right center started the top of the seventh and Sapp's double plated Ryann Luna to make it a 6-2 game, but the Gamecocks' wouldn't be able to get another run across.
 
Faith Sims (7-7) suffered the loss after working just one inning in the circle for JSU. She allowed three runs, two earned, on two hits and a walk and struck out two. Nicole Rodriguez threw two scoreless frames and Kirsten Titus another, while Alexus Jimmerson gave up three runs, two earned, on four hits in two innings.
 
Kelsey Aiken (6-2) earned the win after giving up a run on two hits in 4 and 1/3 innings that also saw her strike out five and walk four.
 
JSU will open its Ohio Valley Conference season on Friday with a doubleheader at UT Martin in Martin, Tenn. The first game is set for 4 p.m. CT.