The Skyhawk softball team suffered its first series sweep of the 2005 season over the weekend against Jacksonville State. The Skyhawks dropped the three games 11-2, 8-0 and 5-4.

The first game saw the Gamecocks jump out to an early 3-0 lead on the Skyhawks, who were celebrating Senior Day.

JSU held the Skyhawks runless until fourth inning, when senior Nicole Davis walked and then reached second on a passed ball.

Sophomore Megan Mizell then reached base on a walk, bringing up jjunior Jennifer Young who brought in Davis on a double.

Jack’ State answered back in the fifth, adding another run and making the score 4-1.

In the sixth, the Skyhawks cut their deficit in half to 4-2, on a solo homerun by senior Kristin Runyan.

But, the Gamecocks exploded in the seventh, putting seven runs on the board.

The seven runs came off of six hits and two Skyhawk errors. The Skyhawks could do nothing in the bottom half of the last inning and dropped the game 11-2.

Davis was credited with the loss, her fourth of the season. She gave up six hits, nine runs and struck out five in six innings.

Mizell came in for relief and allowed four hits and two runs in on inning.

The seniors honored before the game were Davis, Runyan, pitcher Allison Buckley and catcher/third baseman Kristin Hogan.

Game two saw the Gamecocks once again taking the lead first, with a massive third inning.

During the third, there was a grand slam, two errors, and five hits, to put JSU up 8-0.

The Skyhawks would not be able to score before the fifth and the came was called in the fifth.

Sophomore Holly Templeton picked up her third loss of the season, allowing four runs off two hits in two innings pitched. Buckley came in and also allowed four runs on five hits against the 17 batters she faced.

The third and final game saw the Skyhawks able to put forth the offense effort that they were lacking in the first two games of the series.

However, things started off rocky, once again, with the Gamecocks putting three on the scoreboard in the first inning and one in the third and fourth, jumping to the 5-0 lead.

The Skyhawks answered back in the bottom half of the fourth with three runs of their own.

Runyan got things started with another solo homerun, her ninth of the year. Davis launched a double down left field line and then got to third on a wild pitch. Mizell reached on an error by the second baseman and advanced to third, sending Davis home.

Young struck out, bringing up junior Emily Webb who put down a sacrifice play to second, bringing in Mizell and pulling the score to 5-3.

The Skyhawks looked as if they might pull out the comeback and the upset in the sixth when a double by E. Webb brought in Mizell in the sixth, pulling them within one.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Skyhawks kept the charge from the sixth going, with junior Brandy Whalen reaching first and then being moved over on another sac play. She stole third, and was stranded as Davis grounded out to second to end the inning and the game, 5-4.

The Skyhawks are now 27-18 overall and 11-9 in the OVC. They are currently fourth in the league and will face Belmont this afternoon. They return home for a double header against Ole’ Miss and travel to Samford for a three game series.