JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State rifle team opened the 2020 portion of the schedule with its second-best aggregate mark of the season.

JSU posted a final tally of 4643 at the Gamecock Rifle Range inside Rowe Hall against Murray State.  The Racers combined for a mark of 4678.  JSU's mark was 11 points shy of its best of the season – a 4654 shot in Charleston, South Carolina in November.  The Gamecocks collected a 2336 in air rifle and a 2307 in smallbore.

Sophomore Mackenzie Van Patten was JSU's top finisher with a combined mark of 1165.  Van Patten turned in a 584 in air rifle, while adding a 581 in smallbore.  Owen Goad finished in the top-five with an 1163.  Goad finished second in smallbore with a 584 and carded a 579 in air rifle. 

Kaila Jones and Michael Dietz bolstered JSU's air rifle score as Jones scored a 588 and Dietz shot a 585.  JSU's air rifle mark was rounded out by Zach Schmidt and Sam Payne with scores of 578 and 576 respectively.

In smallbore, Jax State's Taryn Granger recorded a 575.

The Gamecocks and Racers will face off again on Saturday, Jan, 25 in Murray, Kentucky.