BOX SCORE

JACKSONVILLE – Freshman Hilary Phillips struck out nine batters in a two-hit shutout of Alabama State on Tuesday, when the Jacksonville State softball team got out of University Field with a 1-0 win.

The hurler from Ider, Ala., allowed just four baserunners and needed just 86 pitches to dispose of the Hornets (9-19), who watched the Gamecocks (16-15) score the game's only run on a throwing error in the bottom half of the seventh.

Freshman Krystal Ruth led off the final inning with a single, moved over on a sac bunt and then scored the game winner when a single from sophomore Kaycee Crow forced ASU center fielder Brehanna Rodrigues to throw the ball away at third. The error allowed Ruth to score and give JSU its fourth win in six games. It was Jax State's ninth win in 10 meetings with the Hornets.

Crow, a sophomore from Ringold, Ga., went 2-for-3 on an afternoon that saw the Gamecocks muster just six hits, two in the final half inning. Senior Chrissy O'Neal led off the first with a single, while senior Nikki Prier, Ruth and freshman Sam Rich also singled in the game.

ASU starter Destinee Sanchez took the hard-luck loss in the circle for the Hornets after allowing an unearned run on six hits in 6.1 innings of work. She didn't strike out a batter but also didn't issue a walk.

It was Phillips' day in the circle, however, as the first-year player sat down a career-high nine batters on strikes without issuing a walk. She did hit a batter but didn't allow a runner past first until the seventh.

Boshia Richardson and Rodrigues each singled to account for the Hornets' offensive output.

The Gamecocks will wrap up a five-game homestand on Thursday, when they host UAB at 6 p.m. at University Field. It will be Student Appreciation night, where all students in attendance will receive a free hamburger and soft drink with their student IDs. It will also be National Student Day, where student athletes in attendance will receive a free t-shirt.