JACKSONVILLE – In an unexpected scheduling twist that allowed Jacksonville State to play host on the opening weekend of the season, the Gamecocks made the additional home dates worth celebrating with back-to-back wins over Buffalo and Army West Point on Saturday.
 
Jax State (2-0) started two differing lineup from game one to game two, but solid pitching and consistent offense was present in both contests to down Buffalo, 9-0, and Army, 7-2.
 
Sophomore Sarah Currie twirled a five-inning shutout of the Bulls (0-2) with six strikeouts and just two hits allowed. Her offense gave her an early lead and added to it regularly en route to the season-opening 9-0 victory.
 
Junior Lindsey Richardson went 2-for-3 with a two-run shot and four total RBI in the opening game to lead JSU's lineup. Her 2-run homerun in the bottom of the first preceded Hannah Buffington's two-run blast and the Gamecocks built a 4-0 advantage before Currie's second trip to the circle.
 
Freshman Ashley Phillips had a stellar debut going 3-for-3 from the plate. She scored on Buffington's homer, drove in her first RBI the following inning as JSU took a 6-0 lead and later smacked a solo homerun of her own to help JSU run-rule the Bulls in five.
 
While the Gamecocks slugged their way to success in the early contest, the day's second matchup against the Black Knight of Army West Point (1-1) was a different story. Caroline Lively, catching in the second game after Abbi Perkins anchored the pitching battery in game one, tripled in the second to break through for the first run against Army to score Linley Tubbs. Tubbs, also new to the lineup for game two of the day, finished with two runs scored and an RBI.
 
Sophomore Kat Carter went the distance pitching against Army scattering four hits across seven innings of work. The Knights evened the score at 1-1 in the top of the third, but Carter shut the door with one of her five strikeouts to end the frame.
 
Things turned in the bottom of the fourth when redshirt-freshman Morgan Nowakowski took first base on a hit-by-pitch to begin Army's trouble. The Knight's began to throw the ball around from there beginning with a fielder's choice and error on Brantly Bonds' ensuring infield hit. Nowakowski scored to take the lead on Tubbs' single back to the pitch and Bonds followed her home after Lively reached on another error. Emma Jones then placed a bunt single down to third which loaded the bases with no outs. After another error allowed Tubbs to score, Richardson, with a 2.45 OPS for the first day of the season, was respectfully walked to score Hannah Brown.
 
By the time the damage was done, Jax State exited with a five-run inning to pull away. Both sides tacked on a run in the sixth, but JSU firmly held its lead the rest of the way for the 7-2 decision.
 
Friday marked the first time since 2019 the Gamecocks walked away from Opening Day of the season with multiple victories under their belt.
 
Play continues at University Field on Saturday with Buffalo and Army at 9 a.m., followed by Army and Jax State again at 11:30 as the teams try to stay ahead of approaching weather. Admission to JSU home softball games is free all season long compliments of Martin's Family Clothing.