SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Jacksonville University's softball team met USC Upstate, the defending Atlantic Sun champions, for a doubleheader Saturday, and allowed seven homeruns en route to 15-7 and 6-4 setbacks.

The Dolphins held a 4-3 advantage in game two before a three-RBI walk-off homer sealed their defeat.

As the top offense in the conference, Upstate went 8-for-11 with runners on base to take an 11-2 edge in the third. After the Spartans' seven-run inning where they plated six on three homers, Jacksonville rebounded with five runs in the fourth. Heather Roberts ignited the rally with an RBI-single to leftfield.

Closing the gap to 11-7, Brooke Smith knocked a two-RBI single before Jordan Daniels and Jacqueline Hodskins each plated a run. 

The Dolphins again struck first in game two, taking the early 2-0 lead after Smith ripped a ball to the centerfield wall. Upstate tied the game at 2-2 in the home half of the inning. 

In the third, Daniels regained the Dolphins' edge with her first career homerun, a two-RBI shot over the centerfield wall. 

With a leaping grab, Allie McCourt robbed Upstate of a potential game-tying homer but the Spartans cleared the leftfield wall to pull within one, 4-3, in the sixth.

Jacksonville concludes the series Sunday at 1 p.m. The rubber match will be broadcast on ESPN3.