JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Jacksonville softball (3-4) split their two games Saturday evening, defeating South Dakota St. 2-1 before falling to Colgate by the same score. Alyssa Bilodeau went all seven innings in the first game and made an appearance in the second. The junior recorded eight strikeouts on the day, while allowing just one run in nine total innings.
VS SDSU
After Bilodeau retired the Jackrabbit's first three batters in order the Dolphins found their first run of the day in the same inning. Kassidy Cross singled up the middle, then stole second to put herself in scoring position. Two batters later it was Hannah Roberts knocking her teammate in with a single to left.
The Jackrabbits found their lone run of the day in the second inning with a home run. It was one of just four hits Bilodeau gave up on Saturday. Each team went scoreless in the third before Jacksonville grabbed the eventual game-winning run in the bottom of the fourth. It was Makenzie Buss making the most of a failed pickoff attempt at third base and taking off for home. Buss beat the throw and gave Jacksonville a 2-1 advantage over SDSU.
Bilodeau allowed one more hit in the final three innings to collect her first win of the season. Buss ended the game going 2-for-3 at the plate with a run. Cross walked twice while recording a hit and a run.
VS Colgate
It was Haley Holloway in the circle for JU against the Colgate Raiders. The sophomore went five innings and gave up six hits, but managed to hold the Raiders to just two runs before being relieved by Bilodeau in the sixth.
Jacksonville had trouble taking advantage when they had runners on base, but had a big fourth inning when Abby Genest scored their only run after getting on with a single. Genest and freshman Victoria Rodebaugh each went 2-for-3, making up the Dolphins' four hits in the game. On the other end, Jessica Hay picked up the win for Colgate after going four innings and allowing just one hit.
"I thought we had a much better start. Pitching is everything. If you can go out and hold people at bay you always have a chance to win and we did that in the first game, and I thought we did that in this game too. Balls didn't fall our way in game two. We'll come back at it tomorrow," said head coach Erica Ayers.
Jacksonville plays their final game of the Osprey/Dolphin Invite tomorrow, Feb. 16 when they host College of Charleston. That game is scheduled for 12:30 PM and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
