Box Scores Game 1 | Game 2

RICHMOND, Ky. – Visiting Jacksonville State swept a pair of games from the Eastern Kentucky University softball team Saturday afternoon at Gertrude Hood Field, 9-0 and 6-2. The games were the Ohio Valley Conference openers for both teams.

JSU’s Tiffany Harbin (8-4) picked up the wins in both games. In the first contest, Harbin went all five innings and allowed just two Eastern Kentucky hits. Harbin then came on in relief in game two, pitching three innings and striking out three Colonel hitters.

The Gamecocks (13-6, 2-0 OVC) belted six home runs on the afternoon. Amanda Crow hit two round trippers in the first contest and batted in three runs. Kristin Graham homered twice in game two while finishing 3-for-4 with four RBIs.

Jacksonville State scored runs in each of the first four innings of game one to cruise to a 9-0 win. Besides Crow’s two home runs, Hayden Crawford went 3-for-3 at the plate with a home run, three RBIs and three runs scored.

EKU senior pitcher Noe Esperas (5-1) suffered her first loss after giving up six runs in just three innings.

Game two saw Eastern (13-8, 0-2) grab a 1-0 lead in the third inning following a dropped infield fly play with the bases loaded.

Jacksonville State responded in the fifth when Graham blasted a solo home run down the left field line. Kelci Johnston gave the Gamecocks the go-ahead runs in the sixth when she hit a two-run shot over the left field fence.

Sophomore Raquel Howes gave Eastern Kentucky some hope after she hit a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth, but Jacksonville State regrouped with three more tallies in the seventh to put the game out of reach.

Sophomore Kristin Perry (3-4) went the distance for the Colonels in game two as she struck out nine batters, but also surrendered 13 hits and all six runs.

The two teams will complete the three-game series tomorrow, March 13 beginning at 1 p.m.