LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Jax State and New Mexico State found themselves in a high-scoring affair on Friday with the Gamecocks pulling out the series opening victory, 9-7 in Las Cruces. 
  
The Gamecocks (20-7, 4-0) fell behind early with a pair of New Mexico State (15-12, 2-2) homers before storming back for a big advantage.
 
The Jax State pitching staff withstood a late NMSU push, knocking off the Aggies at the site of last season's Conference USA Tournament.
 
Kat Carter started in the circle for the Gamecocks, but exited in the first inning after allowing three early New Mexico State runs. Jordan Eslinger entered and limited the damage, escaping without another run crossing the plate.
 
Eslinger tossed 4.0 innings in relief, allowing just one earned run in the process. She earned her fourth win of the year, improving to 4-2.
 
Jaci Underwood opened the scoring for Jax State, lacing a two-run single to cut the lead down to one before Morgan Nowakowski launched a three-run homer to cap off a five-run second inning for the Gamecocks.
 
Jax State added two more in the fifth courtesy of a wild pitch and a throwing error from the Aggie catcher.
 
New Mexico State and Jax State then traded a pair of runs each, with the Aggies adding two in the fifth before Emma Elrod hit her team-best eighth homer of the year and Kailey Martin singled home another.
 
New Mexico State threatened in the seventh, adding two runs and bringing the go-ahead run to the plate before MacKinley Portillo managed to shut the door.
 
Portillo threw 2.1 innings of relief in her seventh appearance of the year. With the win, Jax State is one of just two CUSA schools left undefeated at home, joining Liberty.  
 
Jax State and New Mexico State return for game two of the series tomorrow at 5 p.m.
 
Admission to all Jax State Softball games is free courtesy of Martin's Family Clothing.