JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Snapping the Spartans' 23-game Atlantic Sun winning streak, the Jacksonville University softball team earned its first conference victory of the season in a 2-1 decision over USC Upstate.

"We talked in our pre-game meeting about how we played Upstate tight for the first six innings of both games yesterday and that we wanted to finish what we started today," said Head Coach Jennifer Steele. "I couldn't be more happy with our response. To go into today's game and give up the big home run in the 5th and to limit their opportunities after that was impressive."

"They had a chance in the top of the 7th when they got that slow roller off the end of the bat for the infield single that brought up Griffin, but we decided to pitch to her. We had confidence in our ability and we wanted to see who would win the fight. Victoria was tough as nails in that situation getting the big strikeout."

With no runs scored after three innings, Victoria Brown intentionally walked Cheyenne Griffin, a .400 hitter, to load the bases. The move paid dividends for the Fins as Upstate's next batter popped up to Brown on the mound and she struck out the next hitter to escape the inning.

The Dolphins scored a run in the bottom half of the frame after Lexie Ballard recorded the team's first hit of game. Two outs later, Brown's single down the left field line brought home Ballard for her team-leading 25th RBI.

Another single, this time down the right field line, in the fourth scored JU's second unanswered run. Charli Bradshaw received the RBI on the hit.

Upstate has scored a home run in all but one game this season, its 2-0 shutout to Florida State, and Griffin's solo shot pulled the team within 2-1 in the fifth. The Spartans finished the game placing the tying run on base in both the sixth and seven. In both innings, the runner was never able to move past first.

With two outs and one on, Brown struck out Griffin to seal JU's victory. The decision marked the Spartans' first conference loss as they fell to 21-5 overall and 5-1 in the A-Sun.

Jacksonville (18-16, 1-2) returns to the field Saturday, March 28 for a three-game set at Kennesaw State. Game one is scheduled for 1 p.m.

"We are at a crucial point in our season where we must keep gaining ground," continued Steele. "We won't rest at this point, we'll keep our foot on the gas and we'll start getting ready for Kennesaw come Tuesday."