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JACKSONVILLE — After showing so much fight against softball teams such as Alabama, Auburn, Mississippi State, James Madison and Conference USA foes Texas-El Paso and New Mexico State, Jacksonville State appears to have lost something the past two days.
When Liberty, the prohibitive Conference USA favorite, came to town, the Gamecocks have struggled. After losing to the Flames 3-0 on Friday night, Jacksonville State followed up with a 12-3 loss Saturday afternoon.
Through the first 11 innings against Liberty, the Gamecocks put only four runners on base and none got past first base.
It's a puzzling development for Jacksonville State coach Julie Boland, who figured that if nothing else, her team would come back after Friday's loss and show more fight than it did Saturday.
"It's the mindset," she said. "We have gone toe to toe with some SEC teams, top-ranked teams, and for some reason, our mentality against Liberty is just not there yesterday or today. I think we have great hitters. I think we have an awesome pitching staff, and we just have to make a little bit of a switch to say we're here, we're going to play with you."
It was a somber dugout after Saturday's game, in which the Flames took control early and didn't ease up. Liberty scored a run in the top of the first inning, four more in the second and one in the third. They added two in the top of the fifth, putting Jacksonville State in position of needing to score just so the game won't end early because of the eight-run mercy rule.
With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Liberty inserted a new pitcher, Paige Bachman, and the Gamecocks woke up. Aria Davis scored Jacksonville State's first run on a passed ball. Morgan Nowakowski made it 8-3 with a two-run single.
After Liberty scored four more times in the top of the sixth inning, Jacksonville State loaded the bases in the bottom half of the inning but couldn't score.
"I'm not sure why, showing up at home, playing against the No. 1 team in the league, there's not the fight that we saw last year, last week and really all season," Boland said. "We were never out of a game all season, until this weekend. So mentally, I think it's just we've got to show up and say, we know we can play with you, and we know we can beat you."
Jacksonville State (20-11, 4-4 CUSA) will get another shot Sunday at 11 a.m. against Liberty (26-6, 7-0), ranked No. 22 nationally. A win could change the mood significantly.
"Personally, I am completely bought into this team," said Nowakowski, a redshirt-junior. "I fully believe that we can beat Liberty. We need to show up (Sunday), show up mentally strong and play the game that we know how to play, play the game called softball. I fully believe that we will win."
What to know
—Jaliyah Holmes started and pitched 1⅓ innings and gave up five runs. Amber Reed relieved and worked 2 ⅔ innings and allowed three runs. MacKinley Portillo pitched the final two innings and allowed four runs.
—Ashley Phillips went 2-for-3.
—Nowakowski finished 1-for-2 with a walk and two RBIs.
—Emma Elrod was 1-for-3 with a run.
—Aria Davis and Abbi Perkins each went 1-for-2.
—Jaci Underwood was 0-for-2 but walked and scored a run.
Next up
—Sunday's series finale is at 11 a.m. so Liberty can get out of town faster. The Flames bused to Jacksonville State, and it's about an eight-hour drive back. They have class Monday.
Continue reading...
When Liberty, the prohibitive Conference USA favorite, came to town, the Gamecocks have struggled. After losing to the Flames 3-0 on Friday night, Jacksonville State followed up with a 12-3 loss Saturday afternoon.
Through the first 11 innings against Liberty, the Gamecocks put only four runners on base and none got past first base.
It's a puzzling development for Jacksonville State coach Julie Boland, who figured that if nothing else, her team would come back after Friday's loss and show more fight than it did Saturday.
"It's the mindset," she said. "We have gone toe to toe with some SEC teams, top-ranked teams, and for some reason, our mentality against Liberty is just not there yesterday or today. I think we have great hitters. I think we have an awesome pitching staff, and we just have to make a little bit of a switch to say we're here, we're going to play with you."
It was a somber dugout after Saturday's game, in which the Flames took control early and didn't ease up. Liberty scored a run in the top of the first inning, four more in the second and one in the third. They added two in the top of the fifth, putting Jacksonville State in position of needing to score just so the game won't end early because of the eight-run mercy rule.
With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Liberty inserted a new pitcher, Paige Bachman, and the Gamecocks woke up. Aria Davis scored Jacksonville State's first run on a passed ball. Morgan Nowakowski made it 8-3 with a two-run single.
After Liberty scored four more times in the top of the sixth inning, Jacksonville State loaded the bases in the bottom half of the inning but couldn't score.
"I'm not sure why, showing up at home, playing against the No. 1 team in the league, there's not the fight that we saw last year, last week and really all season," Boland said. "We were never out of a game all season, until this weekend. So mentally, I think it's just we've got to show up and say, we know we can play with you, and we know we can beat you."
Jacksonville State (20-11, 4-4 CUSA) will get another shot Sunday at 11 a.m. against Liberty (26-6, 7-0), ranked No. 22 nationally. A win could change the mood significantly.
"Personally, I am completely bought into this team," said Nowakowski, a redshirt-junior. "I fully believe that we can beat Liberty. We need to show up (Sunday), show up mentally strong and play the game that we know how to play, play the game called softball. I fully believe that we will win."
What to know
—Jaliyah Holmes started and pitched 1⅓ innings and gave up five runs. Amber Reed relieved and worked 2 ⅔ innings and allowed three runs. MacKinley Portillo pitched the final two innings and allowed four runs.
—Ashley Phillips went 2-for-3.
—Nowakowski finished 1-for-2 with a walk and two RBIs.
—Emma Elrod was 1-for-3 with a run.
—Aria Davis and Abbi Perkins each went 1-for-2.
—Jaci Underwood was 0-for-2 but walked and scored a run.
Next up
—Sunday's series finale is at 11 a.m. so Liberty can get out of town faster. The Flames bused to Jacksonville State, and it's about an eight-hour drive back. They have class Monday.
Continue reading...
