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JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State softball team will play its only home game in the first month of the season on Thursday, when the Gamecocks host SIU-Edwardsville at 3 p.m. at University Field. Admission is free for all fans.

The Gamecocks (2-0) will face the Cougars (1-2) for the first time in program history in a preview of things to come. The Cougars will join the Ohio Valley Conference next season in softball. Thursday's single game will be broadcast live on the JSU Radio Network.

The Gamecocks are coming off of a pair of wins in the snow-shortened Kennesaw State K-Club Classic on Sunday. JSU opened the tourney with a 7-6 win over Indiana before capping the day with a 5-4 win over Wright State. Senior outfielder Chrissy O'Neal was named the OVC Player of the Week after going 4-for-8 with a double, a home run and four RBI over the two games. The Dallas, Ga., native's three-run home run in the win over Indiana gave her 35 in her career, just one shy of Rachel Countryman for second on the school's all-time homers list.

Also with a big day at the plate for the Gamecocks was sophomore catcher Kaycee Crow, who homered twice and drove in three runs on a .400 average. The Ringold, Ga., native doubled her 2009 home run total on the day. Freshman pitcher Hilary Phillips allowed three earned runs in a complete game win over Wright State in her collegiate debut, good enough to earn the Ider, Ala., native the OVC's Pitcher of the Week honor.

SIUE went 1-2 in South Alabama's tournament to open its season over the weekend. The Cougars fell to Lipscomb and Samford on Saturday before claiming a 1-0 win over Western Kentucky on Sunday. Ellese Lawrence doubled twice and drove in a pair of runs to lead the Cougars offense, while Erika Taylor posted a 1-1 record and a 2.15 earned run average in the circle.