JACKSONVILLE – Jax State fell 10-2 to New Mexico State Saturday afternoon after the Aggies bounced back in a big way from a Friday night shutout.
 
NMSU (21-14, 7-5 CUSA) opened with a solo home run to leadoff the top of the first and never looked back on their way to 10 runs off 18 hits. Jax State (16-22, 5-6 CUSA) hadn't allowed more than 11 hits to an opponent in a game all season. The damage could have been worse as the Gamecocks did manage to strand 13 Aggies on base.
 
Linley Tubbs hit her first home run of the season in the bottom of the second after NMSU had already stormed out to a 6-0 advantage. The only other Gamecock RBI came from Ashley Phillips who drove in Morgan Nowakowski in a station-to-station bases loaded situation. Unfortunately for Jax State, the lone run would be all that came of their best chance to climb back into the contest.
 
Sophomore starter Jaliyah Holmes took the loss after an inning of work. Jordan Eslinger and freshman MacKinley Portillo tossed relief innings.
 
The two teams return for the rubber game of the series Sunday afternoon at 12 p.m. noon. The Gamecocks are trying to secure their third-straight deciding game three victory to take the weekend series.