JACKSONVILLE – The Jax State softball team fell victim to a series sweep from the Liberty Flames on Sunday, losing in the series finale 5-2. The Gamecocks are in the midst of a five-game losing streak, the longest streak of the season.
 
The Flames (27-6, 8-0 CUSA) remain undefeated in conference play while Gamecocks (20-12, 4-5 CUSA) look ahead to a midweek contest with Samford on Wednesday.
 
Entering last weekend, Jax State had not suffered more than two consecutive losses all season, but after five straight Conference USA defeats, the Gamecocks find themselves with a 4-5 record in conference play.
 
For the third consecutive outing, Liberty found itself on the board first, opening up game three with a pair of doubles for a 1-0 advantage.
 
Jax State starting pitcher Kat Carter followed up the first with a scoreless second inning in her second start of the weekend. Carter started in Friday's 3-0 loss to the Flames. 
 
The Flames extended their lead in the third after executing a double steal of second and home.
 
Emma Elrod led off the fourth with an infield single before coming around to score on a sacrifice fly courtesy of Kailey Martin, cutting the Liberty advantage in half.
 
Liberty wasted no time adding back to its lead, tacking on two more in the fifth inning but Jax State once again responded with a solo home run from redshirt junior catcher Abbi Perkins, making the score 4-2.
 
Jax State failed to add another run for the remainder of the contest, with Liberty pushing one more across in the sixth to bolster its lead.
 
Jax State struggled to find its groove on offense this weekend, managing just one extra base hit, the solo homer from Perkins, across the three games.
 
Elrod and Amber Reed each had two hits on the afternoon, all four hits coming in the form of singles.
 
In its last six games, Jax State has allowed 40 runs after allowing just 55 runs in the 26 games prior this season.
 
The Gamecocks look to bounce back on Wednesday, March 26 at Samford. Jax State defeated the Bulldogs 5-2 just two weeks ago.
 
Admission to all Jax State Softball games is free courtesy of Martin's Family Clothing.