GAME 1 BOX SCORE  |  GAME 2 BOX SCORE

MURRAY, Ky. – Junior Sallie Beth Burch went 4-for-7 for the Jacksonville State softball team on Saturday, leading the Gamecocks to a doubleheader split at Murray State in Ohio Valley Conference action.

The Racers (7-15, 2-2 OVC) used a six-run sixth to pull off a 10-7 win in the opening game before the Gamecocks (12-13, 1-3 OVC) rallied for four sixth-inning runs in the nightcap to squeak out a 5-3 win. It was the first meeting in softball between the two schools, with MSU's program in its first year.

Burch, a native of Moulton, Ala., went 3-for-4 with a double in the first game of the day before going 1-for-3 with an RBI in the nightcap. Freshman Kelci Johnston managed one hit on the day but made it count, belting a three-run, pinch hit home run that gave JSU a two-run lead in the fifth inning of the first game. Freshman Cara Longworth also homered for JSU in the game, a solo shot in the second.

The Racers wouldn't allow that lead to stand, using three hits, a Gamecock error and three walks to produce the six-run frame that would win the game. JSU would score one in the seventh and load the bases with the three-run deficit before MSU got out of the inning and handed the Gamecocks their third-straight league defeat.

Chelsey Sullivan earned the win in relief for the Racers after holding the Gamecocks to a run on one hit in one inning in the circle. Kristen Broadway tossed a perfect inning to earn the save, her second. Shelby Kosmecki started the game but was chased after surrendering six runs, four earned, on eight hits in five innings of work.

Junior Ashley Eliasson pitched 4.1 innings for the Gamecocks before being chased after allowing four runs on four hits. The Vallejo, Calif., struck out six and walked three before giving way to freshman Hilary Phillips (4-6). The native of Ider, Ala., was tagged with the loss after surrendering six runs on three hits in 1.2 innings in the circle.

In the nightcap, the Gamecocks managed to pull off the split despite recording just two hits against the Racers' pitching duo of Sullivan and Broadway.

The JSU sixth saw the Gamecocks plate four runs, thanks to just one hit, two walks and two MSU fielding errors. Their lone base hit in the frame was a leadoff infield single from senior Chrissy O'Neal.

Burch recorded the team's only other hit of the game, an RBi single in the first inning.

Eliasson (8-7) earned the win for the Gamecocks after allowing three runs on eight hits in seven innings that saw her throw 126 pitches. She struck out 10 Murray State batters and walked a pair in her 11th complete game in 16 starts this season.

Sullivan (2-6) suffered the loss for Murray State after surrendering five unearned runs on two hits in six innings in the circle. She fanned seven batters and walked three before watching Broadway toss the final inning, a perfect one.

Stephanie Mattocks went 2-for-3 in the game to lead the Racers at the plate, while Stephanie Edwards drove in two runs on a two-run homer in the fourth.

The two will play the rubber match of the series on Sunday at 1 p.m.