JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville State received a pair of two-hit performances from its starting pitchers on Saturday to open ASUN Conference play with a doubleheader sweep of North Alabama.
 
The Gamecocks (14-9, 2-0 ASUN) handed a hot UNA (17-5, 0-2 ASUN) squad 8-0 and 5-1 back-to-back losses for the first time all season.
 
Freshman Jaliyah Holmes shined in a game one six-inning shutout that ended with Linley Tubb's RBI single up the middle to force a run-rule conclusion. Sophomore Kat Carter had a different route to her two-hitter in the second contest of the day, working around five walks and an error behind her in the field to strand seven Lions on base in her one-run outing.
 
Tubbs, who ended the opening game with a walk-off single, hit her team-leading fourth home run of the season earlier in the game and reached base again in the fifth as part of a 3 RBI day. Lindsey Richardson finished 3-for-6 on the afternoon with three RBI of her own and scored the opening run of the day on a double by from Holly Stewart.
 
While JSU broke it open at the end of the first game, the second matchup was a much more methodical exercise. JSU scored one in each of the first two innings to tie and then move ahead, before a 3-spot in the home half of the fourth finally provided Carter some breathing room in the circle.
 
UNA hit just .095 on the day going 4-for-42 from the plate between both contests.
 
JSU moved ahead 19-17 in the all-time series between the two rivals. The two teams will meet against Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. to conclude the first weekend of conference play.