JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville University's softball team opened Atlantic Sun action with the reigning regular season champions and preseason favorite, USC Upstate. Late home runs sunk JU in both games of its doubleheader as the Spartans swept Saturday's play by scores of 7-3 and 6-4.
USC Upstate 7, Jacksonville 3
Victoria Brown's first pitch of the afternoon resulted in a groundout to third base. Upstate's next batter was also sent back to the dugout, and with two quick outs many at the Debbie & Fred Softball Complex were thinking three up and three down. Instead, the Spartans' next two batters singled before Kendall Settlemyer brought both home on a double down the left field line.
A throwing error in the top of the third nearly cost the Dolphins a run on the board. Upstate's leadoff hitter reached first base and advanced all the way to third on an errant throw but Brown retired the next three batters in order to safely leave the frame with Jacksonville still trailing 2-0.
In the bottom half of the frame, Brown and Danielle Baker reached base on a hit and walk, respectively. Passed balls put the runners on third and second and Emily Sanchez scored both on a single to right center. At the conclusion of the half, things were all tied up at 2-2.
In the next inning, Robinson pushed the Spartans back up by two on a double to right center before Brooke Smith belted her third home run of the season over the left field fence.
Karla Beasley lifted her team to a 7-3 advantage on a three-RBI homer in the seventh.
USC Upstate 6, Jacksonville 4
Picking up game two where they left off, back-to-back solo home runs provided Upstate an early 2-0 lead in the first.
Jacksonville plated a pair of runs after loading the bases in the bottom of the second. A wild pitch scored JU's first run of the game and later, with two outs, Baker worked a full count. She drew the walk on an outside pitch and tied the game at 2-2.
Upstate entered a new pitcher after Charli Bradshaw recorded her second single of the evening. Kinsley Jennings forced Kristen Griffith to a ground out but Lexie Ballard drove her first pitch past the right field wall for Jacksonville's 4-2 lead.
The Spartans tacked a run on the board in the fifth and followed that up with a two-run homer and an RBI-double in the sixth to take the lead for good.
Taylor Rossman, the starting pitcher, returned to the mound after Upstate took its 6-4 edge. Brown worked 1.2 innings and yielded four hits and four runs.
Rossman recorded the final six outs of the game with no hits given up.
JU's rally began with Sanchez's leadoff double in the seventh. Unfortunately, the rally was short lived as she wouldn't move base second.
Jacksonville looks to avoid the series sweep against USC Upstate on Sunday at 1 p.m.
