OXFORD – A fast start by top-seeded Southeast Missouri set the tone in the first game of the 2021 Ohio Valley Conference Softball Championship on Thursday and put Jacksonville State in the elimination bracket.
 
The Redhawks (29-15) scored eight first-inning runs and never looked back in defeating the fourth-seeded Gamecocks (23-24) 11-2 to start the double-elimination event at Choccolocco Park's Signature Field.
 
The Gamecocks fall into the elimination bracket, where they will play at 2 p.m. on Friday against the loser of Thursday night's game between No. 2 seed Eastern Kentucky and No. 3 seed Austin Peay.
 
Senior Alexus Jimmerson homered and walked in her 1-for-1 day, accounting for JSU's first run of the game with a leadoff home run in the second. JSU's second run came in the fifth, when Savannah Sudduth drew a leadoff walk, advanced to third on Keeli Bobbitt's double and scored on a Karsen Mosley grounder to third.
 
Two of the Redhawks three home runs came from Kaylee Anderson, who hit a first-inning grand slam and a two-run home run in the third inning. She led the offense with three runs scored and six RBI.
 
Rachel Rook (19-8) earned the win in the circle after allowing two runs on three hits and two walks in five innings of work. She struck out eight and hit a batter.
 
Reagan Watkins (6-7) suffered the loss after allowing six runs on three hits and three walks after recording one out in the first. Hannah Brown gave up three runs, one earned, on three hits in 1 and 1/3 innings, while Lexi Androlevich pitched the final 2 and 1/3 innings and gave up two runs on three hits.