HUNTSVILLE – Jax State dropped Saturday's contest to James Madison, 7-1, while playing in the third different venue in three games as part of the Rocket City Showcase.
 
After JMU opened the day with an 8-0 win over ETSU at UAH's Charger Park, the Dukes stayed hot with the Gamecocks (8-4) next up on the docket.
 
Sophomore MacKinley Portillo got the start in the circle and the first taste of JMU's offense. The Dukes lifted a 3-run home run out of the park in the bottom of the first inning to grab a lead that would not be relinquished.
 
Senior Sarah Currie relieved Portillo to start the second, and held JMU in check for the next three frames. Jax State failed to capitalize on its own offensive opportunities, leaving eight baserunners stranded on the bases.
 
The Gamecocks cracked the scoreboard in the top of the fifth when Morgan Nowakowski's double to left field gave way to Emma Elrod racing home from first with two outs.
 
JMU responded in the home half of the frame with a 4-spot. Currie was forced to hand the ball to Jaliyah Holmes who managed get out of the fifth and sat the Dukes down in order in the sixth. Abbi Perkins led off the seventh with a triple, but a comeback would not unfold after that.
 
Jax State returns to Charger Park Sunday morning to face No. 17 Mississippi State at 10:00 a.m., before heading across town to Toyota Field to meet the No. 23 Auburn Tigers at 3:00 p.m.