MONROE, La. – The Jacksonville State softball team dropped its season opener in extra innings on Friday, when ULM pulled off a 7-6 win in its Best on the Bayou tournament. 
 
A game that saw four lead changes and the Gamecocks (1-0) rattle off 17 hits ended when the Warhawks (1-1) got a bases-loaded game-winning single from Jayden Mount in the bottom of the eighth inning.
 
It was JSU's first competitive action since the 2020 season was abruptly ended by the COVID-19 Pandemic on March 16 of last season. The Gamecocks' return to the field started with some fireworks, with four first-inning singles and a pair of runs on hits from Jada Terry and Hannah Brown gave them an early 2-0 lead.
 
The lead didn't last long, thanks to a five-run first by ULM that was highlighted by a Madison Blount grand slam. The Warhawks chased Brown from the circle before she could record an out.
 
JSU senior Reagan Watkins entered from there and gave JSU the chance to get back in the game, striking out eight and limiting the Warhawks to just two runs on five hits over seven innings of relief work. The Daphne, Ala., native suffered a tough-luck loss in the game after allowing her two runs late.
 
At the plate, JSU's picked up eight more hits than the Warhawks, with third baseman Karsen Mosley leading the way with a 4-for-5 day that also featured an RBI. First baseman Megan Fortner homered in her 2-for-4 day, while freshman right fielder Shelby drove in two and was 2-for-5 in her collegiate debut.
 
After the five-run first, JSU's comeback attempt started in the third. A five-hit inning started with a Terry single and a Reagan Watkins double before Chaney Phillips notched her first career RBI on her RBI single to center. Newsome then delivered a two-out hit into right center that tied the game at 5-5.
 
JSU regained the lead in the sixth on Fortner's homer, a leadoff blast that cleared the wall in left center.
 
ULM answered with a two-out rally in the home half of the sixth. Back-to-back singles and then a pair of walks pushed one across and tied the game.
 
Neither team could score in the seventh, and Mosley was caught stealing after her leadoff single in the eighth the stall JSU's late rally attempt.
 
Korie Kreps led off the ULM eighth with a single and then moved to third on a Gamecock throwing error. Senior Alexus Jimmerson entered the game and issued a pair of walks that loaded the bases and then gave up the game-winning single up the middle to Jayden Mount.
 
Adrianna Chavarria (1-1), who entered the game after JSU tied it in the third, earned the win in relief after limiting the Gamecocks to a run on eight hits in 5 and 1/3 innings in the circle. She struck out four and walked two.
 
JSU is scheduled to continue play in the Best on the Bayou tournament on Saturday, starting with an 11 am meeting with No. 10 Oklahoma State and then a 3:30 pm rematch with the Warhawks.