HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Jax State struck first, but a late-inning Southern Miss double led the Golden Eagles past the Gamecocks 3-1 on Saturday. Jax State finished the Black & Gold Challenge with a 4-1 record
  
The Gamecocks (13-7) defeated Southern Miss (7-12) in Friday's game 4-0 before falling in the rematch on Sunday.
  
Jax State found its way on the board courtesy of a third inning rally. Aria Davis tallied a one-out single before moving to third on a Jaci Underwood double.
 
Davis came around to score on a fielding error to give the Gamecocks a 1-0 advantage just one batter later.
 
Southern Miss evened the score on a squeeze bunt in the fourth frame before taking a lead on a two-run double in the fifth.
 
Kat Carter started the game on the bump for Jax State and finished her outing with five hits, three earned runs in 6.0 innings.
 
With the loss, Carter fell to 5-2 on the season.  
 
Jax State returns to the diamond on Tuesday with a midweek contest at West Georgia before returning to Jana McGinnis Field on Wednesday against Alabama State.
 
Admission to all Jax State Softball games is free courtesy of Martin's Family Clothing.