By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – This has definitely not been a typical year for the Jacksonville State softball team. One of the Ohio Valley Conference's perennial powers, the Gamecocks are spending their final season in the league standing below .500 on the year.
JSU has won only one conference series thus far in the 2021 campaign, dropping Belmont in two of three contests. Since then, the Gamecocks (6-16, 5-7 OVC) have won just one game in their three-game sets against UT Martin, Eastern Kentucky and SIUE.
As Tech heads to Jacksonville for the final time, but only the first doubleheader as JSU will make a return trip to Cookeville in April, the series evokes a rivalry between the two teams during their early years in the conference. Jacksonville State is leaving the OVC at the end of the season, along with Eastern Kentucky, to join the Atlantic Sun Conference.
The two teams square off Tuesday, starting at 3 p.m. The games will be broadcast on ESPN+ (subscription required).
While Tech has a 23-32 all-time record against Jacksonville State, including 7-5 in the OVC Tournament, the series has been somewhat one-sided in recent years with the Gamecocks winning six of the last seven, five of those in Jacksonville. Tech split the last two meetings in Cookeville in the 2019 campaign, falling 7-0, then winning 2-0 – the latter standing as Alyssa Arden's third no-hitter of the season to become the only Tech pitcher to throw three in a single year.
Do not read too deeply into the current standings though – Jacksonville State is still a threat to be reckoned with, even if the Gamecocks currently stand eighth in the OVC standings and six games back from first-place Southeast Missouri and two wins back from fifth-place Tech (13-12, 7-4 OVC).
Jada Terry leads the Gamecocks at the plate, driving in a team-high 19 RBI with five home runs, 10 runs scored and a .353 average – all top marks on the JSU roster. Karsen Mosley (eight RBI, one HR) and Savannah Suddu (one RBI, nine runs scored) both also have a batting average above .300.
As a team, JSU is hitting .242 but have only scored 69 times to opponents' 111. Opponents have also stolen 43 of 45 base attempts, while the Gamecocks have stolen 13 of 15. In contrast, Tech is batting .267 and have one fewer run than its opponents – 98 to 99. Tech has 86 RBI on the season and has stolen 21 of 24 bases, while allowing 51 steals on 55 attempts, including 10 by Eastern Illinois in Friday's second game.
Tech is led by Sydney Love-Baker at the plate, collecting a .351 batting average with 11 runs scored and 12 RBI. Five Golden Eagles have double-digits in RBI – led by Nicolle Nysted and Jessie Lowery with 14 – and runs scored – led by Lowery with 13 – while four players – Love-Baker, Nysted (.333), Beth McCulley (.333) and Mackenzie Fitzgerald (.300) are batting .300 or better.
In the circle, Reagan Watkins has seen the most action for the Gamecocks, throwing 60 1/3 innings in 13 appearances, while posting a 1-4 record and a 3.71 ERA. She has 47 walks and 61 strikeouts on the year. Nicole Rodriguez (2.71 ERA) has a 3-3 mark in 10 appearances across 41 1/3 innings with 17 walks and 49 Ks.
For Tech, Alyssa Arden (2.85 ERA) went 3-0 last week to retake the team lead in victories with a 7-6 mark over 81 frames of work, walking 49 and striking out 60. Haeli Bryson (5-2, 2.80 ERA) has allowed four walks with 32 strikeouts. As a battery, Tech is allowing a .215 batting average, .190 against Arden, .209 against Bryson.
The two teams will square off again April 20 in Cookeville as the OVC travel partners see each other in home-and-home doubleheaders. Tech returns home on Friday to continue league play as it hosts Austin Peay for a Friday twinbill and single game on Saturday before the Easter holiday.
Photo | Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
