DELAND, Fla. – It was a tough-luck loss for Jax State on Saturday afternoon after one hit became an error that ultimately allowed Stetson's only two runs to score in a 2-1 road setback to the Hatters.
After reeling off 13-straight wins, Jax State (24-11, 10-2 ASUN) dropped its first conference series of the season on Saturday as the Hatters (22-18, 6-6 ASUN) stumped JSU for the second-straight day to claim a 2-1 series win.
The Gamecocks struck immediately in the top of the first as
Brantly Bonds roped a leadoff double in the gap.
Emma Jones advanced Bonds to third with a bunt, and the Gamecocks made it on the scoreboards on
Lindsey Richardson's RBI single through the left side between third base and shortstop.
Richardson would be left on base in the first beginning a series of missed chances. Jax State left six aboard through three frames, including leaving the bases loaded without a run in the second. While the offense was unable to pad to the early advantage,
Jaliyah Holmes worked a solid seven innings from the circle.
Holmes was saddled with just her fourth loss of the season despite her final line reading four hits, four strikeouts and zero earned runs allowed.
In the home half of the third, Stetson had a one-out single to get its first run aboard. A chopper to first ate Richardson up who mishandled the ball which kicked away allowing the batter to reach and the initial baserunner to move all the way to third. After a lineout to third, the Hatters loaded the bases via a hit-by-pitch.
A swinging bunt by the following batter died halfway up the third base line, moving everyone to advance safely and tie the game at 1-1. Holmes then walked her only batter of the day, before a fly-out to right ended the troublesome frame.
JSU would get the potential tying run on in each of the next three innings, but failed to find a timely hit to bring them in.
Before continuing ASUN action next weekend at home, the Gamecocks will host Georgia Tech at University Field at 5 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon.
Left bases load in the second
