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MOREHEAD, KY. – A pair of Morehead State pitchers only allowed one earned run to the Jacksonville State softball team Sunday at University Field, but JSU pitcher Ashley Eliasson tossed a three-hitter and the Gamecocks won the series over MSU with a 4-0 victory.
The Gamecocks (19-16/6-6 Ohio Valley Conference) stranded 10 runners on base but took advantage of three MSU errors and turned two double plays to preserve the shutout. The Eagles (19-16/9-4 OVC) made a couple of base running mistakes and could not solve Eliasson (13-7), who picked up two wins in the series.
Sarah Funston was tagged with the loss for MSU, even though she gave up just four hits and one earned run. Alex Gjevre pitched the final 2.2 innings, allowing just an unearned run.
JSU scored its first run via a bases loaded hit-by-pitch in the second frame. The Gamecocks then played three more in the fifth.
Chrissy O’Neal reached as MSU third baseman Rebecca Butler dropped a fly ball just on the outside of the pitcher’s circle. After a sacrifice bunt, Nikki Prier singled home O’Neal. Another fielding error on Sally Beth Burch’s grounder to shortstop set up Amanda Crow’s run-scoring single to left field. The ball dropped in just ahead of a driving Sam Woodall and Crow moved to second on the relay throw.
Kaycee Crow next hit a grounder to third, and Butler elected to get Amanda Crow out on a run-down. On the play, Burch scored before the tag out.
The Eagles had two on and no one out in the bottom of the first, but a double play and runner leaving first base early erased the threat. The Eagles also had two runners on with no outs in the fourth, but Kayla Ashbrook popped into a double play on a bunt and pinch runner Brianna Williams got caught off first base. MSU had runners in scoring position in the sixth and seventh innings as well but could not generate the clutch at-bat.
Crow tallied two of JSU’s seven hits, including a double.
Morehead State travels to Eastern Kentucky on Wednesday, April 14 at 2 p.m. as the teams finish their three-game series. EKU and MSU split games in Morehead earlier this year.
