YOUNGSVILLE, La. – Redshirt Freshman Macy Bearden settled in and pitched the Jacksonville State softball team to a 6-2 win over Nicholls State to open the SLU Mardi Gras Mambo on Friday afternoon.
 
After the Colonels (4-9) grabbed two runs in the first, Bearden held them scoreless the rest of the way as the Gamecocks (4-5) stormed back to open the three-day event with a win.
 
The Bowdon, Ga., native struck out six in her first complete game, allowing two runs on six hits and only one walk in seven innings in the circle. After the two-run first and the Colonels left the bases loaded with no outs in the second, only one runner reached scoring position the rest of the way against Bearden.
 
While she was holding the Nicholls bats in check, the Gamecocks started mounting their comeback in the third inning. A two-run single through the right side by senior Alexus Jimmerson started the scoring for JSU, driving in Keeli Bobbitt and Savannah Sudduth to tie the game.
 
JSU took the lead for the first time in the sixth, thanks to an RBI groundout from freshman Megan Fortner and squeeze attempt that turned into an infield RBI single from junior Jada Terry. 
 
The Colonels assisted JSU in its cause in the sixth, allowing one run on an error and another on a wild pitch to post the final score on the board.
 
Bobbitt, a transfer from Wallace State and a native of Vernon, Ala., led the way with two of the team's seven hits, while Jimmerson drove in a team-high two runs.
 
Emily Danehower suffered the loss for Nicholls, surrendering four runs, three earned, on seven hits and four walks in 4 and 1/3 innings of work. Taryn Westbrook allowed two unearned runs on two walks in her 1 and 2/3 innings of relief work.
 
JSU will continue play in the tournament on Saturday, when they take on Abilene Christian at 3 p.m. and Incarnate Word at 5 p.m.