BOX SCORE

AUBURN – The Jacksonville State softball team rallied from four runs down once but couldn't overcome a late four-run deficit in an 8-5 loss at Auburn on Tuesday at the Jane B. Moore Field.

Freshman Kelci Johnston went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI for the Gamecocks (23-17), while the Tigers (26-23) got four RBI from Krista Clyde to earn their 11th win in 12 meetings with JSU. Johnston belted a two-run, game-tying homer off AU ace Anna Thompson in the fifth, but it was Clyde's three-run double in the bottom of the inning proved to be the difference in the game.

Jacksonville State senior Chrissy O'Neal went 2-for-3 with a walk and two RBI in a nine-hit effort by the Gamecock offense, while senior Mary Beth Ledbetter added a 2-for-2 performance that featured a solo homer, a walk and a pair of runs scored. Senior Hillary Downs had one hit in four at bats, extending her team-high hitting streak to 11 games.

The Tigers got two hits apiece from Amber Harrison and Lauren Guzman.

Harrison got things started early for Auburn with a leadoff home run that just cleared the wall down the right field line. The Tigers got an unearned run in the second and then a two-run double from Guzman in the third to take a commanding 4-0 lead after three.

The Gamecocks went to work in the fifth, getting a two-run single from O'Neal that plated Kaycee Crow and Ledbetter and set up Johnston's game-tying homer. After O'Neal's hit, the Tigers went to their ace Anna Thompson, who saw Johnston deposit her 2-2 pitch just over the wall in left center to tie the game at 4-4.

The Tigers got the lead back quickly on an RBI single from Kelsey Cartwright, and a two-out fielding error by JSU third baseman Amanda Crow proved costly. A dropped chopper extended the inning and set the stage for a three-run double by Clyde that put JSU down by four again, 8-4.

Ledbetter started a seventh-inning rally early, thanks to a leadoff home run on the second pitch of the night by reliever Lauren Schmalz. Ledbetter's towering blast that was even with the lights when it cleared the wall in left center, was followed by an error that allowed Tess Echols to reach and a walk to O'Neal that chased Schmalz from the circle.

Jenee Loree came on and, after loading the bases on a single by Johnston, retired the next three batters to get out of the inning and close the door on a Gamecock comeback.

Freshman Hilary Phillips (7-10) suffered the loss in the circle for the Gamecocks after allowing four runs, one earned, on five hits in three innings of work. Junior Ashley Eliasson started the game and gave up four runs, three earned, on three hits and a walk in three innings of work.

The Gamecocks will be at home on Wednesday, when they host in-state rival Samford at 6:30 p.m. at University Field. Admission is free for all fans.