
3/4/2023 7:19:00 PM | Softball
KNOXVILLE – Jacksonville State dropped a pair of contests to open the Tennessee Classic on Saturday, falling 1-0 to Belmont and 9-0 to No. 6 Tennessee.
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JSU's (10-6) showdown with the nationally-ranked Lady Vols (13-1) was the fifth meetings between the two programs. With the win, UT now leads the all-time series, 3-2, for the first time since 2009.
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The Lady Vols limited JSU to just a pair of hits in what became the their eighth-straight shutout. JSU's Lauren Hunt and Brantly Bonds found their way aboard late in the contest to snap UT's opportunity at a second no-hitter of the day after their early game against Appalachian State.
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Sophomore Kat Carter was tagged with her first loss of the season from the circle after allowing five runs in 1.1 innings. A two-out grounded right back up the middle and through the legs of Carter allowed the first two Lady Vols to score. Carter was knocked around for two more extra-base hits to begin the second, including a 2-run homer that signaled the end of her night. Sophomore Sarah Currie entered in relief with one-away in the second, but arrived to the same treatment as UT proceeded with two more long balls in the inning to make it 8-0 by the third frame.
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Freshman Jordan Eslinger settled in for the final 1.2 innings of work to finish with a clean slate of zero hits and one strikeout. Â
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Earlier in the day, Belmont's Maya Johnson stymied the Gamecocks at the plate as well on her way to 14 strikeouts to lead BU to a 1-0 victory to open the weekend.
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The Gamecocks return to action at Lee Stadium early on Sunday with a 8:30 CT game time against Appalachian State, followed immediately by a rematch with the Lady Vols.
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JSU's (10-6) showdown with the nationally-ranked Lady Vols (13-1) was the fifth meetings between the two programs. With the win, UT now leads the all-time series, 3-2, for the first time since 2009.
Â
The Lady Vols limited JSU to just a pair of hits in what became the their eighth-straight shutout. JSU's Lauren Hunt and Brantly Bonds found their way aboard late in the contest to snap UT's opportunity at a second no-hitter of the day after their early game against Appalachian State.
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Sophomore Kat Carter was tagged with her first loss of the season from the circle after allowing five runs in 1.1 innings. A two-out grounded right back up the middle and through the legs of Carter allowed the first two Lady Vols to score. Carter was knocked around for two more extra-base hits to begin the second, including a 2-run homer that signaled the end of her night. Sophomore Sarah Currie entered in relief with one-away in the second, but arrived to the same treatment as UT proceeded with two more long balls in the inning to make it 8-0 by the third frame.
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Freshman Jordan Eslinger settled in for the final 1.2 innings of work to finish with a clean slate of zero hits and one strikeout. Â
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Earlier in the day, Belmont's Maya Johnson stymied the Gamecocks at the plate as well on her way to 14 strikeouts to lead BU to a 1-0 victory to open the weekend.
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The Gamecocks return to action at Lee Stadium early on Sunday with a 8:30 CT game time against Appalachian State, followed immediately by a rematch with the Lady Vols.
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Players Mentioned
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Johnson, Maya (4-3)
L: Holmes, Jaliyah (4-2)
Batting:
RBI: Ledbetter, Abi 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Varner, Kaley 1
SB: Varner, Kaley 1
CS: Ledbetter, Abi 1

Batting:
SH: Nowakowski, Morgan 1
Base Running:
SB: Jones-Hubbard, Emma 1 ; Phillips, Ashley 1
Game Leaders
Saturday, March 14
Saturday, March 14
Wednesday, March 11
Thursday, February 19


















