JACKSONVILLE – Juniors Lindsey Richardson and Emma Jones collected three hits apiece on Tuesday, but it wasn't enough to power Jacksonville State past visiting Georgia Tech in a 9-6 setback at University Field.
 
The Gamecocks slip to 24-12 overall following the first loss to the Yellow Jackets (21-19) since 2015. Entering the day, JSU had won the prior three meetings with the Atlantic Coast Conference foe.
 
Georgia Tech's Sara Beth Allen launched a three-run home run in the top of the first inning to push GT out ahead for the early advantage in a game that would span nearly three hours. The Gamecocks later put their first run on the scoreboard in the home half of the second when Hannah Buffington's third strike squeaked past the catcher and to the backstop. Buffington reached safely at first, but at errant throw trying to complete the out allowed Morgan Nowakowski to score from second where she was positioned following her one-out double.
 
In the circle, freshman Jaliyah Holmes tossed three innings and gave up her fourth run in the final frame of her outing. Head coach Jana McGinnis had planned ahead of time to rotate through pitchers in the midweek tilt Holmes got a little work in early.
 
In the bottom of the third, Jones singled and moved to third on Richardson's ground-rule double that was initially thought to have been a home run hit into the setting sun in right centerfield. Held up at second and third, the runs came home on Holly Stewart's two-out drive to left field pulling JSU within a run at 4-3.
 
Senior pitcher Hannah Brown followed Holmes in the circle throwing a season high 2.2 innings. She was scoreless through two frames, stranding a pair of runners in the fourth and leaving the bases empty in the fifth.
 
With Brown stalling the GT lineup, Jax State came through to even the score in the home half of the fifth by way of the frequent combination of Jones and Richardson. After a leadoff single for Jones, the Anniston, Ala., product stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball to be ready to trot home on Richardson's following single to left. The stolen base for Jones, her 24th of the season, matches Anna Chisolm's single-season Division I school record set in 2012.
  
Unfortunately, a leadoff walk to start the sixth for Brown began a woeful five-run inning for the Jackets. The leadoff runner moved to second on a sacrifice and scored the go-ahead run on an ensuing double. Following another RBI hit and a walk, Brown exited to Kat Carter who likewise saw a free pass load the bases. The final damage came on a single to center mishandled by the sure-handed Hunt who owns a .969 fielding mark. Three runs were allows to cross the plate, two of which Brown was still on the hook for in the book.
 
Jones and Brantly Bonds drove in runs in the bottom of the inning to draw JSU back within three and a chance to rally in the seventh inning, but the needed hits couldn't come through as GT held on for the road victory.
 
The loss was just the second of the season when Jax State scored at least three runs, with six being the most the Gamecocks have posted in a setback all season. ASUN newcomer Queens arrives at University Field Saturday to kick-off a three-game conference series when JSU still holds the second spot in the league standings.