STARKVILLE, Miss. – Cam McLemore belted a grand slam and Kat Carter tossed a complete game to help the Jacksonville State softball team close the Mississippi State Bulldog invitational with a 6-2 win over Furman on Sunday.
 
The Paladins (8-9) scored two runs in the first inning and Carter shut them down from there. She held them to just three hits over her final six innings and gave the Gamecocks (10-8) a chance to get their bats going.
 
JSU had some offensive opportunities but finally capitalized in the sixth, when they got on the board with six two-out runs. A Karsen Mosley walk, an Abbi Perkins single and an error on Sidney Wagnon's sac bunt loaded the bases with no outs.
 
Furman got two quick outs before Megan Fortner got JSU on the board with an RBI single to left, cutting the Paladins' lead to 2-1. Addie Robinson entered to pinch hit and was hit to tie the game, setting the stage for McLemore's big swing.
 
The Saraland, Ala., native connected on Shelby Basso's 1-2 pitch and lifted it over the wall in left. Her grand slam staked Carter to a 6-2 lead.
 
The native of Spring Hill, Tenn., kept the Paladins off the board for the final two innings and capped her seventh complete game in nine starts this season. Carter (5-4) struck out five and allowed just six hits, only three of which came after the two-run first inning.
 
Basso (0-1) suffered the loss in relief for Furman, surrendering four unearned runs on two hits and a walk in two innings. Lauralee Scott started the game and allowed two unearned runs on five hits and four walks in five innings of work.
 
McLemore drove in four in the game and capped a weekend that saw her go a combined 5-for-8 with two home runs, a double and six RBI.
 
The Gamecocks will host the Jacksonville State Invite on Friday and Saturday, welcoming Samford and Austin Peay to University Field. The Bulldogs and Governors will open the tournament on Friday at 1 pm, while JSU will take on Samford at 3:30 pm and Austin Peay at 6 pm. On Saturday, Samford and APSU will play at 12 p.m. before JSU takes on APSU at 2:30 p.m. and Samford at 5 p.m.
 
Fans can purchase tickets online at www.jsugamecocksports.com/tickets. JSU Students and all fans ages 18 and under receive free admission.