JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Jacksonville University softball (12-15) played the first two of a three game series against Jacksonville State (15-6) Saturday afternoon. The 'Phins found runs in crucial points in each game, but ultimately fell to the Gamecocks in both games.

GAME ONE

Haley Holloway made the start in game one of the series for JU, completing the game with six innings pitched and four strikeouts. Jacksonville State was held scoreless in three innings, but a big bottom of the third gave the sophomore trouble. 

After one run scored in the first, the Gamecocks extended their lead with a 5-run third inning. Four of those came from a grand slam that put JU in a 6-0 hole. Following a quiet fourth, however, Jacksonville left their mark on the scoreboard with a 2-RBI single that came off the bat of Makenzie Buss. Moments later, Buss scored on a Jacksonville State error to cut the deficit in half. 

Now trailing by just three, Holloway found a way to retire the Gamecocks in the bottom half of the inning, giving her team a chance to make up more ground at the plate. Jacksonville couldn't find a run before the Gamecocks put together a 3-run sixth inning, making any comeback attempt a tall task. Jacksonville would collect one more score in the top of the sixth, but wasn't able to even the score before moving on to game two.

GAME TWO

The Dolphins' second game began in similar fashion to the first, with a pair of Gamecocks crossing the plate to build an early 2-0 lead. This time, the 'Phins responded immediately with a run in the second. A patient trip to the plate for Kassidy Cross resulted in a bases-loaded walk that sent Kayana Perez home and cut the lead in half. 

The second inning run was the only one Jacksonville couldn't muster. Meanwhile, the Gamecocks earned another in the third and fifth, before a dagger sixth inning that saw three cross the plate. 

Although Alyssa Bilodeau recorded her fourth double-digit strikeout game of the season, the Gamecocks still managed to collect 10 hits and scored a total of seven runs in the second game. Cross was credited with Jacksonville's lone RBI in game two with her walk. Makenzie Buss made her way to first three times on walks. 

Jacksonville plays the final game of a three game series against the Gamecocks tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 2 PM EST.