JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville softball held the defending ASUN Conference champion USC Upstate to just two runs through the first four innings, but the Spartans added four runs in the fifth and five in the sixth to put the game out of reach for an 11-0 victory in six innings, Sunday afternoon at the Debbie & Fred Pruitt Softball Complex.

"They came out with a lot of fire; I don't think splitting with us yesterday sat too well with them. We had a huge opportunity with the bases loaded and one out [in the bottom of the fourth], and we didn't capitalize. Today is not a reflection of the steps we have taken forward. We have to have a short memory and let that one go," said Head Coach Jennifer Steele.

USC Upstate's first two runs came off an RBI single from Abbie Millette in the top of the first for a 2-0 lead.

The Dolphins' (26-21, 4-8 ASUN) pitching staff shut down the Spartans thereafter and allowed just one more Spartan hit until the top of the fifth.

Jacksonville's best chance to get runs back came in the bottom of the fourth. Ciara Jones led off with a slap hit single through the right side and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Heather Roberts. Madison Ragan was then intentionally walked and Danielle Baker drew ball four on a 3-2 count to load the bases with one out. However, Spartan pitcher Holly McKinnon came up huge for the visitors and got the next two Dolphins out swinging to get out of the jam.

With two outs in the top of the fifth, the Spartans (38-11, 11-4 ASUN) sparked a four-run outburst beginning with an RBI single from Karla Beasley. A two-run double from Ansley Gilstrap gave USC Upstate a 6-0 lead and a ground out to shortstop ended the half inning.

Five Spartan runs came across in the top of the sixth on a single up the middle from Upstate's Megan Obier, a double deep down the left field line from Alicia Dorgan, and a single to left center from Ryan Rector to give the visitors an 11-0 advantage.

Allie McCourt (1-for-3), Jones (1-for-3), and Jacqueline Hodskins (1-for-2) all had hits for the Dolphins.

Taylor Thorpe (8-7) suffered the loss in the circle after she tossed the first 1.0 innings and gave up two earned runs.

Thorpe's counterpart McKinnon earned the win to improve to 20-7 on the year while Abbie Millette led the Spartans with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate with two RBI.

"We'll see them again in the [ASUN] tournament and we match up with them pretty well. We're tough to beat; we showed them that on Saturday. We just have to do that consistently. The engine is moving in the right direction," added Steele. "If you lose 1-0 or if you lose 11-0, you still lose. If you're not emotionally mature, you can let the 11-0 loss cripple you and we're not going to do that."

The Dolphins return to the diamond Sunday, April 30 when they head across town for a doubleheader at UNF at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.