JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Jacksonville softball team defeated the USC Upstate Spartans 5-0 on day two of the Jacksonville Spring Break Challenge on Saturday. Another strong outing from graduate student Shelby Harpe (3-3) in the circle added to her impressive non-conference resume. Her seven-inning, two-hit shutout may have been her best performance of the season, bringing her overall ERA down to a 0.59 average in 35.2 innings of work. Harpe had four innings where she set the Spartans lineup down in order and gave up no extra base hits, only the two lone singles she had surrendered.
 
"The great thing about Shelby today was there were a couple of moments where she labored and got it back quickly," said head coach Erica Ayers. "A really impressive and mentally tough outing for her."
 
Jacksonville (9-11) complemented its pitcher's strong outing with a five-run performance. Jazz Jones had the first multi-hit game of her young career and has tallied three hits so far this weekend in two games. She also had a game-high two runs scored. Madison Bratek recorded two RBIs without needing a hit to do so. It was her third game this season with multiple RBIs.
 
The first four frames showcased a pitcher's duel as neither side was able to record a hit, let alone a run. In the fifth inning, Upstate got its second batter of the inning to reach on a bunt single, but Harpe avoided any further damage and navigated through the lineup worry-free.
 
The bottom of the fifth is where JU did most of its damage. Jazz Jones singled and stole second, eventually ending up on third after a wild pitch before an out was even made. Madison Bratek then hit a one-hopper to short, and Jones, who was running on contact, was thrown out by what appeared to be 10 feet. The freshman continued to charge towards home, and when the catcher went to apply the tag, Jones took flight, soaring over the extended glove and falling on the base with a flailing hand to get JU's first run of the game. Just two batters later, and after an Allison Bratek infield single, Kari Holzrichter hit a sacrifice fly to score Madison Bratek. Kassidy Pointbriant followed up two batters later with a single up the middle, scoring Allison Bratek from third and giving JU a 3-0 lead.
 
In the sixth, Upstate again got its second batter to single, but, in similar fashion to the fifth, Harpe avoided any further damage. Hallie Kern started the home half of the inning with a laser off the left-field foul pole on the first pitch she saw for her first home run of the season. After another Jones single, Madison Reynolds singled up the middle and advanced Jones to third. Madison Bratek followed up with an 0-2 liner to left field that was caught, and the speedy Jones made it home with ease to give JU a 5-0 lead heading to the seventh.
 
Like she had done three times prior, Harpe sat the Spartans down in order in eight pitches and clinched her third win of the season in doing so. Jacksonville claimed its fourth consecutive win in the process.
 
"We were solid in all three phases today," added Ayers on her sides performance.
 
UP NEXT

The Jacksonville Spring Break Challenge concludes tomorrow, March 10. The Dolphins wrap up the tournament with an afternoon matchup with the Presbyterian Blue Hose at 2 pm. The game can be streamed on ESPN+, and live stats can be followed on JUDolphins.com.