May 17, 2008

"I was proud of (my team) after the Alabama whipping we took and we hadn't even stopped cleaning out the dugout and the team was talking about the next game and making it to the championship," Jacksonville State head coach Jana McGinnis said. "I am proud to be in the championship game and get the national coverage that Jacksonville State needs. I hope our players go out and play hard and enjoy every minute of it."

The Gamecocks used a huge fourth inning, scoring seven runs, to effectively put the game away. Florida State threatened to climb back into the game in the top of the fifth inning, loading the bases before JSU pitcher Ashley Eliasson closed the door.

"I have been in situations like that early in the season and I have learned that you just have to keep your cool and play like there is nothing wrong," Eliasson said. "That is all you can do. I just needed to calm down and hit my marks better."

It marked the second time in two days that the Gamecocks beat the Seminoles, this time closing out Florida State's season.

"It's a tough way to end your season," FSU head coach Joanne Graf said. "That one inning [the fourth] killed us. We were in the game. Early in the game I thought we had opportunities to score some people and we watched strike three several times, which was very disappointing."

A two-run shot by Alana Hicks in the bottom of the fifth triggered the run rule and catapulted JSU into the championship game tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. against Alabama on ESPN2.

Eliasson picked up the win, going to 16-5 on the season while FSU's Melissa May took the loss, falling to 2-3.