JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Jacksonville University softball (12-16) played the final game of a series with Jacksonville State (16-6) Sunday afternoon. It was a home run-filled contest with five total finding their way over the fence. Though Jacksonville took an early lead and kept it close down the stretch, they'd fall 7-5 to the Gamecocks to end the weekend.
The Dolphins wasted no time finding a run today. With the second at-bat of the day, Kassidy Cross gave Jacksonville a lead with a solo homer. It was Cross' third RBI and fourth hit of the weekend. The 'Phins would be outdone a half inning later when the Gamecocks sent a 3-run shot over the fence. The homer came following an 11-pitch at-bat with two outs.
Scoreless over the next two innings, Alyssa Bilodeau settled in and began racking up the strikeouts. 12 went down on strikes in the junior's second consecutive double-digit strikeout game, but neither team was done going yard in this one. After collecting a run in the fourth, the Gamecocks hit two more home runs in the fifth inning that put JU down 7-2.
Jacksonville began to make things interesting down the stretch, adding a pair of runs off errors in the top of the sixth to bring the game back within reach. After the Gamecocks were retired in order in the bottom of the inning, the Dolphins found themselves needing three runs to tie it with a trio of outs left to play with.
O'Neal did her part in the final inning by leading off with a solo home run to make it a 7-5 game and no outs. Jacksonville got one more runner on base and had Hannah Roberts at the plate representing the game-tying run, but a double play ended the game and the weekend for JU.
Cross' 2-4 day at the plate was the best for any Dolphin. She was joined by O'Neal and Kasi Shaffer with an RBI each. Bilodeau's record in the circle goes to 6-7 with the loss.
Jacksonville has a six-day break before returning to the Debbie & Fred Pruitt Softball Complex to open ASUN play. They'll host the Stetson Hatters (8-16) in three games over the weekend, beginning Saturday, Mar. 23 at 1 PM.
