NATCHITOCHES, La. – Jax State outscored Memphis and Northwestern State 19-2 in a pair of victories on Sunday. With the wins, Jax State exits the Northwestern State Tournament 4-0.
The Gamecocks (7-2) added six runs in the final two innings against Memphis in game one while rallying for seven more runs in the last two frames of the second game against NSU.
The offensive dominance paired with one earned run in 14.0 innings of work in the circle led to a pair of dominant wins. Four Jax State pitchers combined to allow just eight hits across two games.
After three scoreless innings in game one, Preseason All-Conference USA selection
Ashley Phillips launched her first homer of the season, putting Jax State ahead 1-0. After Memphis evened the score at 1-1 in the fourth,
Emma Elrod and
Morgan Nowakowski teamed up for two singles, each scoring a runner.
Jax State poured it on in the seventh inning, tallying three runs behind three extra base hits, capped off by a two-run home run courtesy of Elrod.
In her first start of the season,
Sarah Currie tossed 3.2 innings, allowing just one earned run before giving way to
Jordan Eslinger in the bottom of the fourth. Eslinger did not allow a baserunner, retiring all 10 batters she faced on her way to picking up the victory.
An early Northwestern State unearned run put the Gamecocks at a disadvantage before
Abbi Perkins launched a three-run go-ahead home run to put Jax State up 3-1.
Designated player
Amber Reed followed suit in the fifth inning, knocking in a pair of Gamecocks with a single.
Elrod continued her hot streak, doubling home another Jax State baserunner and leaving two on for Nowakowski, who promptly cleared the bases, extending the lead to 8-0.
In the seventh, Phillips started a five-single rally that resulted in four more Jax State runs. After
MacKinley Portillo tossed four innings, allowing just one unearned run,
Jaliyah Holmes entered and tossed three scoreless frames and earning her first save of the year.
Elrod capped off her day going 6-for-10 with six RBI's while Nowakowski was 4-for-8 with three RBI's of her own.
Jax State outscored its opponents 37-5 in the four-game tournament.
Jax State returns to action on Wednesday, Feb. 19 at the Rocket City Softball Showcase, squaring off with Alabama at Toyota Field at 6:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on FloCollege.
