JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville State closed its regular season with a 7-3 win over Alabama State on Wednesday at University Field.
Seniors
Anna Chisolm and
Taylor Beshears kickstarted the Gamecocks (34-13) in the third inning and then drove in a combined five runs, while
Faith Sims grabbed her 21
stwin with four shutout innings of the Hornets (20-22).
Sims (21-4), the team's senior ace, started the game and allowed just one hit. The Hornets' got a two-out infield single from Alexis Massie that was the first hit off of Sims since April 19. It snapped a streak of 23 and 1/3 consecutive innings without allowing a hit for the Cordova, Ala., native, who was named the Louisville Slugger/NFCA D1 National Pitcher of the Week after throwing two no-hitters last week.
She struck out five and walked just one and extended her streak of consecutive scoreless innings to 30 and 2/3.
JSU threatened early but couldn't get on the board until the third, when an RBI single from Beshears and a three-run homer from Chisolm put the Gamecocks up 4-0. Chisolm went the other way and drove one over the wall in left center for her 13
thhomer of the year, tying Beshears for the team lead.
A Beshears sac fly and an error off a Chisolm grounder that scored two more in the fourth made it a 7-0 JSU lead.
The Hornets got three in the fifth, starting with a two-run, pinch-hit homer from Marina Clark, her first of the season. A throwing error from relief pitcher
Reagan Watkins allowed another to score in the fifth.
Nicole Rodriguez pitched the final 2 and 1/3 innings, allowing just one hit and striking out two to close the door on the win.
Justine Jean (9-12) suffered the loss for Alabama State after allowing four runs on six hits in three innings of work.
The Gamecocks will turn their attention to the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament from May 8-11 at Choccolocco Park in Oxfordm Ala. JSU has clinched at least a share of the regular season title but must wait for other games around the league this weekend before learning its seeding in the event.
