JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville State rode a dominant pitching performance by
Faith Sims early and then rallied late to sweep a red-hot Kennesaw State team in the Gamecocks' return to University Field.
More than one year since the Gamecocks (13-6) played in its home stadium, they returned to a renovated University Field that was severely damaged by an EF-3 tornado that rolled through Jacksonville on March 19. In that Homecoming, JSU handed an Owls (15-13) team that rolled into town riding a 10-game win streak a 2-0 defeat in the opener before coming from behind to win a 7-6 thriller in the nightcap.
Sims had a big hand in both wins. The senior from Cordova, Ala., tossed a two-hit shutout of the Owls to set the tone for the day. She struck out 10 and walked just two in a dominant win that moved her record to 8-1 on the season. In the second game, head coach
Jana McGinnis turned to her ace in the seventh with one out to get and the tying run at first. Sims closed the door for her first save of the year.
She wasn't the only hero in a red jersey on Wednesday. Freshman
Karsen Mosley drove in all the offense JSU would need in the first game on a line drive home run that cut through a 15-mph wind that was blowing in and plated the only two runs of the game.
In the second game, senior
Amber Jones drove in three runs in a 2-for-4 outing. The first two pulled JSU back to within a run in the third and the last cut its deficit back to one in the fifth and set up the game winner from freshman
Bailey Smart.
Smart was sent to the plate to pinch hit with two outs and the bases loaded and laced a two-run single into center that scored Jones and pinch runner
Hannah Brown to turn a one-run KSU lead into the Gamecocks' first advantage of the night.
Sophomore
Nicole Rodriguez (3-3) earned the win in the circle for JSU in the second game. After allowing a leadoff home run to the first batter she faced in the fourth, she held the Owls scoreless on three hits over the next 3 and 2/3 innings to set up Sims for the final out.
Sims got the best of KSU starter Hailey Andrews in the pitcher's duel to open the day. Andrews (7-7) held JSU to two runs on five hits in her complete game, striking out five and not issuing a walk.
The Gamecocks continue their homestand on Saturday, when they start a three-game series vs. Jacksonville University. The two will play a doubleheader at 1 p.m. on Saturday before wrapping up the weekend with a 1 p.m. single game on Sunday.
