JACKSONVILLE – The Gamecocks got the Jacksonville State Softball Invitational off to a good start on Thursday, when they held off Samford for a 4-1 win and then rolled to a 7-2 win over Austin Peay at University Field.
The Gamecocks (12-8) got solid pitching performances from their freshman due of
Kat Carter and
Sarah Currie and got timely hitting in both games of their home tournament.
In the first game,
Addie Robinson singled in a pair of runs to put the Gamecocks on top and they never looked back, as Carter limited the Samford offense and won her second-straight start.
Carter scattered eight hits over her eight complete game in 10 starts this season and held the Governors to just one run, while striking out five. The Spring Hill, Tenn., native improved to 6-4 on the young season.
Robinson's first-inning single plated
Megan Fortner and Brantley Bonds to put JSU up 2-0, and then an
Abbi Perkins sac fly made it a 3-0 game before the first frame ended.
The Bulldogs got one run on an M.K. Tedder single in the top of the fifth, but JSU got in right back in the home half when
Chaney Phillips dropped a perfect squeeze bunt that scored
Keeli Bobbitt and put the deciding 4-1 score on the scoreboard.
Jordyn Partain suffered the loss for Samford in the circle after allowing four runs, three earned, on seven hits in six innings of work. She walked four and struck out two in falling to 2-3 on the season.
The Gamecocks got plenty of run support for Currie in the nightcap against Austin Peay. The Lawrenceville, Ga., native held the Governors to one earned run on six hits in her fifth complete game in nine starts. She struck out three and didn't issue a walk to improve to 4-1.
The Gamecocks racked up nine hits against the Govs and got home runs from
Megan Fortner and
Hannah Buffington. Fortner's leadoff blast in the fourth-inning extended her team-high hitting streak to 10 games.
JSU got on the board in the third, thanks to a two-run double from
Lindsey Richardson that staked Currie to a 2-0 lead. Fortner's blast started a three-run fourth that included an error on a Phillips grounder that scored a run and an RBI grounder by
Sidney Wagnon that put JSU up 5-0.
Mea Clark erased the zero on the board for APSU with a solo homer in the fifth, but Buffington delivered a two-run blast in the home half of the inning that stretched the Gamecocks lead to 7-1. An error allowed the final Austin Peay run to score in the seventh, right before Currie ended the late threat.
APSU starter Harley Mullins was credited with the loss after allowing seven runs, six earned, on seven hits in five innings in the circle. Samantha Miener tossed the final frame, giving up a pair of hits.
The Gamecocks will conclude the JSU Invitational on Friday, when they host APSU at 2:30 p.m. and Samford at 5 p.m. The Bulldogs and Govs will open the day with a 12 p.m. game at University Field.
