OXFORD – The Jacksonville State softball team swept its doubleheader from Belmont on Friday at Choccolocco Park and did so in opposite ways from one game to the next.
The Gamecocks (19-17, 7-1 Ohio Valley Conference) run-ruled the Bruins (20-10, 1-5 OVC) in the first game and used some late heroics to claim a 4-3 thriller in the finale.
Junior
Faith Sims (13-7) earned the win in both games, going the distance in the opener before claiming the win in relief in the nightcap, while senior
Emily Woodruff and
Taylor Beshears used late homers to overcome a deficit in that second game.
Woodruff went 3-for-6 on the day with a homer, three RBI and three runs scored to lead a JSU offense that gave the OVC's top pitcher fits throughout the day. Brooklin Lee entered the day leading the league in wins, ERA and strikeouts, but she suffered the loss in the opener and couldn't hold a lead in the finale.
The first game saw JSU jump on Lee (11-4) with runs in the first and second before a two-run third allowed the Gamecocks to start to pull away. The Bruins defense let her down, as well, committing four errors in the opener that led to four unearned runs.
An
Alexus Jimmerson single started the scoring in the first before throwing errors led to two of the next three runs. Lee was chased after three innings after allowing four runs on three hits and a pair of walks. She did strike out seven in the game.
JSU scored again in the fourth on a Lexi Rouse wild pitch and then capped the mercy-rule win with a four-run fifth. That final frame saw a two-run single from Sapp, an
Anna Chisolm sac fly and a walk-off infield single by Jimmerson put the game away.
Sims earned that win by limiting the Bruins to an unearned run on just three hits, while striking out six and walking two. Jimmerson and Chisolm each had two hits, while Sapp and Jimmerson drove in a pair.
The nightcap started differently, with Belmont grabbing two first-inning runs and posting an early lead on JSU starter
Nicole Rodriguez. Jimmerson entered the circle and settled things down, limiting the Bruin bats to six hits over 3 and 2/3 scoreless frames.
While Jimmerson was putting zeroes on the board, the JSU offense started working to get back in the game. Woodruff cut the 2-0 deficit in half with her second-inning RBI single and then delivered the big blow in the fourth.
After
Ryann Luna extended the bottom half of the inning with a two-out single up the middle and then Woodruff turned on Rouse's first pitch and drove it over the wall in left center. Woodruff's go-ahead homer was set up by her glove in the top of the inning, when she dove to her right to rob Baylee Cook of extra bases and at least one RBI with two out and runners at the corners.
The Bruins walked their way to tie the game at 3-3 in the fifth, only to watch Beshears put JSU back on top in the home half of the frame with a leadoff homer to right.
Sims tossed two scoreless innings that saw her allow just one hit before a leadoff hit batter in the seventh forced head coach
Jana McGinnis to bring in
Kirsten Titus. The junior stranded the tying run at second and the go ahead run at first to earn her first save of the season.
Woodruff's 2-for-3, three-RBI effort at the plate led JSU again in the second game.
Alicia Veltri (3-5) suffered the loss for the Bruins, allowing a run n two hits in two innings of work.
The Gamecocks return to action on Sunday, when they host a 1 p.m. doubleheader with Tennessee State at Choccolocco Park. The twinbill will be streamed live at www.ovcdigitalnetwork.com. JSU students and fans ages 18 and under receive free admission.
