JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State softball team dropped a tough 2-1 decision in Friday's series opener at Southern Miss.
The Gamecocks (10-8) entered the game on a four-game win streak and having won eight of their last 10, but they couldn't capitalize on opportunities in dropping the first of a three-game series with the Eagles (13-6).
JSU outhit the Eagles, 9-3, but was 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position, stranding 12 runners on base in the one-run loss. Southern Miss used a two-run fourth to account for all of its scoring, with both runs coming in on a walk and hit batter with the bases loaded.
The Gamecocks had runners in scoring position in every inning, but they couldn't get more than one in against the Eagles pitching staff. Double plays ended threats in each the fourth and fifth innings.
The pitching duo of
Lexi Androlevich and
Reagan Watkins held the Eagles offense to just three hits in their six innings of work. Androlevich (3-2) suffered the tough-luck loss after limiting USM to two runs on two hits and four walks in 3 and 2/3 innings of work. She struck out two and hit a batter.
Watkins held the Eagles scoreless on just one hits in 2 and 1/3 innings of relief work, striking out two and walking one.
Makenna Pierce (4-0) started the game and pitched the first four frames, allowing one run on five hits and two walks. Kaylan Ladner pitched the final three innings, earning the save after keeping JSU off the board on four hits and two walks.
JSU scored first in the fourth, when
Jada Terry led off the innings with a walk, moved over on singles from
Sidney Wagnon and
Keeli Bobbitt and then scored on a
Savannah Sudduth single to center.
The Eagles answered in the home half of the fourth, loading the bases on a single and two walks. They tied the game when Heather Hill was hit by a pitch and then took the lead when Kaley Fruge drew a walk.
JSU had multiple runners on in the fifth and sixth and then had a one-out double from
Megan Fortner put the tying run in scoring position in the seventh, but the Gamecocks couldn't get that tying run in.
The two teams will finish the series on Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m.
