JACKSONVILLE – Jax State split of a pair of games with Middle Tennessee on Saturday, picking up the Gamecocks' first Conference USA win in the process.
 
The Gamecocks (11-20, 1-4 CUSA) let an early lead slip away in a 6-3 setback to begin the day, before bouncing back with a 9-0 six-inning victory to even the weekend series with the Blue Raiders (15-19, 3-5 CUSA).
 
Jaliyah Holmes started strong in the opening game with four perfect innings to begin her outing. A double to leadoff the fifth was followed by a two-run homer to tie the game. MTSU then took the lead with a run in the sixth and added three in the top of the seventh which proved to be crushing as the Gamecocks loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning to get the winning run to the plate before the rally fell short.
 
Jax State received another efficient start in the circle in game two with junior Kat Carter who eventually struck out nine on her way to a six-inning shutout. After getting out of multi-runner situations in the first and the second, Carter was backed by her offense in the home half of the second with a five-run frame.
 
Earlier in the day, Kenzie Nicholson and Megan Rasmussen each launched the first home runs of their careers. In the second game, Ashley Phillips bookended nine runs with a solo shot to start in the second inning and a two-run, walk-off homer in the sixth.
 
Following Phillips' first homer, the Gamecocks continued to apply the pressure as Rasmussen and Lindsey Richardson came through with back-to-back 2-RBI singles to make it a 5-0 Gamecock advantage. With Carter cruising in the circle, Rasmussen stayed hot with another RBI in the fourth before and solo home run from Makalyn Kyser in the fifth built a seven-run lead.
 
The two teams conclude the weekend with the third and final matchup on Sunday at 1 p.m.