JACKSONVILLE – Sophomore Mackenzie Van Patten led the Jacksonville State rifle team in its first home competition of the season against Morehead State.

The Gamecocks posted an aggregate score of 4638, while the Eagles turned in a 4656.  JSU registered a 2333 in air rifle, while adding a 2305 in smallbore.

Van Patten, from Nampa, Idaho, combined for an 1171 to finish with the best individual mark.  She fired a 591 in air rifle and a 580 in smallbore.  Another sophomore, Owen Goad accounted for JSU's top smallbore score as he finished with a 582, which was one spot out of first in that portion of the match.  Goad, a native of Chatham, Virginia, carded a 580 in air rifle and tallied an 1162 overall score, which was good for fifth place.

Freshman Michael Dietz rounded out JSU's top-10 finishers, placing ninth with an 1151.  Dietz boosted JSU's air rifle score with a 581 and shot a 570 in smallbore.

Senior Zach Schmidt finished seventh in smallbore with a 573.

Jax State returns to action this weekend, competing against The Citadel and North Georgia in Charleston, South Carolina.