Published: April 15, 2008 03:21 pm         

MSU softball stops first-place Gamecocks

MOREHEAD, Ky. - Morehead State sophomore pitcher Alex Gjevre picked up her second complete-game win of the weekend in hurling the Eagles to a 5-1 win over Jacksonville State Sunday (April 13) at University Softball Field in Morehead. With the win, MSU took the three-game Ohio Valley Conference series, two games-to-one.

Morehead State is now 26-8 overall, 11-5 in the OVC. In winning the series, the Eagles remain in second place in league standings and move to within two and a half games of first-place Jacksonville State. The Gamecocks are 25-11 overall, 14-3 in the conference.

The Eagles scored the first run of the game in the second inning. Korey Ellis led off with a walk, moved to second on a wild pitch, was sacrificed to third base by Allie Honkofsky and scored on a ground out by Ashley Archer.

MSU took a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning when Brandy Bucher singled with two out, moved to second base on a walk to Rebecca Butler and scored on a single by Bianca Cardenas.

Jacksonville State cut the lead in half, 2-1, with a run in the top of the sixth inning. Whitney Elder smacked a one-out single and scored on a double by Jackie Jarman.

The Eagles added three insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to account for the final margin. Kari Quinn singled in Archer and later scored on a wild pitch. Butler, who walked four times in the contest, drew a bases loaded walk to plate Bri Jones.

JSU was retired one-two-three in the seventh. Gjevre, now 13-3 on the season, allowed six hits, walked four and struck out six. Gamecock starter Melissa Dowling (16-7) allowed eight hits and two earned runs in five and two-thirds innings and took the loss.

On Saturday the two clubs split a twinbill. Alex Gjevre threw a three-hit shutout and Kari Quinn hit a two-run home run as Murrent Ohio Valley Conference standings, split a league twin bill Saturday (April 12) afternoon at University Softball Field in Morehead. Alex Gjevre threw a three-hit shutout and Kari Quinn hit a two-run home run as Morehead State won the opener 2-0. Melissa Dowling tossed a four-hitter to lead Jacksonville State to a 3-2 win in the nightcap.

Gjevre (12-3) scattered three singles, did not walk a batter, struck out eight and allowed only one runner past second base in earning the win in game one. Eagle rightfielder Ashley Archer, the current OVC Player of the Week, led off the third inning with a single, and one out later, Quinn blasted her seventh home run of the season over the left centerfield wall.

Gamecock starter Ashley Eliasson (8-3) took the loss.

JSU took the lead for good in the second game with a two-run second inning. Whitney Elder singled with one out and scored on a double by Jackie Jarman. Chrissy O'Neal brought Jarman home with a two-out base hit. The Gamecocks stretched the lead to 3-0 on a solo hhhhJackie Jarman. Chrissy O'Neal brought Jarman home with a two-out base hit. The Gamecocks stretched the lead to 3-0 on a solo home run by Rachel Fleming in the fifth inning.

All of MSU's second game offense came in last half of the seventh and final inning. A one-out Brandy Bucher single was followed by a Rebecca Butler double. Bianca Cardenas grounded out to second, scoring Bucher. Korey Ellis singled in Butler to cut the JSU lead to one run. Pinch hitter Bethany Ellis walked, putting the tying run at second and the winning run at first base. But Dowling (16-6) got MSU's Courtney Seiler to foul out to left field to end the game.

Quinn (9-3), the Eagles' second game starter, pitched five innings, gave up all three JSU runs and suffered the loss.

MSU returns to action at University Softball Field with a 2 p.m. EDT doubleheader against Marshall on Tuesday (April 15).