KENNESAW, Ga. – The Jacksonville State softball team earned a split to open the 2020 season on Friday, holding off Purdue Fort Wayne before falling to Kennesaw State at Bailey Park.
 
The Gamecocks (1-1) overcame an early deficit to the Mastadons before rallying and then holding on for an 8-7 win to kick off the season at the KSU Phyllis Rafter Memorial Tournament. The host Owls then used two big innings to earn a 9-1 win in the second game of the day.
 
In the opener, the Gamecocks trained 4-1 in the second inning before storming back to take control of the game. An error allowed the Gamecocks to score in the second but a four-run frame by Fort Wayne gave them the early advantage.
 
JSU plated a pair in the third, thanks to RBI from Alexus Jimmerson and Jada Terry, to cut the deficit to a run. Terry tied the game in the fifth on a sac fly and then a two-run single from Jimmerson in the sixth put JSU back in front 6-4. Newcomer Maddie Clay, a transfer from Georgia State, laced a two-run double into left in the top of the seventh to build an 8-4 lead with just three outs to get.
 
Sophomore Hannah Brown (1-0), who entered the game in the third and tossed four scoreless innings to get to the seventh, worked out of a jam to preserve the win. The Mastadons took advantage of a JSU error and plated three unearned runs before Brown induced a Lexi Smalarz pop up to end the game.
 
Brown earned her first career win in the circle after allowing three unearned runs on five hits in five innings of work. Jimmerson started the game and surrendered four runs on seven hits in two innings.
 
Lauren McConnell (0-1) suffered the loss for Fort Wayne after surrendering five runs on six hits and five walks in 4 and 2.3 innings of relief work.
 
Terry led JSU at the plate with a 2-for-2 game that also saw her drive in a pair of runs, while Jimmerson had three RBI and Clay added two.
 
In the second game of the day, the Owls jumped on JSU for a four-run first inning and never looked back. They scored five in the fifth to end the game via the mercy rule.
 
JSU's lone run came in the third, cutting its deficit to three runs at the time. Freshman Megan Fortner led off with a double and then scored on a two-out error by KSU.
 
Macy Bearden (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing six runs on seven hits in four innings in the circle, while Reagan Watkins allowed three runs, two earned, while recording one out in the fifth.
 
Melanie Bennett (1-0) earned the win for KSU, limiting JSU to an unearned run on two hits in five innings.
 
JSU will play the same two teams on Saturday, beginning with an 11 a.m. CT matchup with Fort Wayne. The Gamecocks will wrap up the day at 3 p.m. CT against KSU.