LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Jacksonville State dropped the second game of its Conference USA softball series to New Mexico State, 8-7, on Saturday at the NM State Softball Complex.

The Aggies fended off a late rally by the Gamecocks to even the series and force a rubber game on Sunday. First pitch is set for Noon CT. The Gamecocks nearly erased an 8-3 deficit with four runs over the final two frames.

Jax State's rally was highlighted by a pair of home runs by freshman Kailey Martin and redshirt junior Abbi Perkins. Martin's blast plated a pair of runs, while Perkins' dinger brough the Gamecocks within a run of matching NM State.

The Gamecocks clawed their way back into the contest after NM State started fast with a 3-0 lead. Martin, who finished with four RBI on a pair of hits, drove in the first two of four with a single in the fourth. The Aggies extended the lead in the fourth inning with a pair of runs.

Both squads traded runs in the firth inning before a Jax State run in the sixth ignited the rally. Sophomore Megan Rasmusson delivered an RBI single in the frame.

Perkins' home run in the seventh was the third hit of the day for her to lead all Gamecocks. Sophomore also posted multi-hits with two in the setback.