JACKSONVILLE – After a series opening 7-5 victory over the FIU Panthers on Friday, Jax State took home a game one doubleheader win 11-3 before falling in the series finale 6-3 on Saturday, earning a CUSA series win. FIU entered the weekend in second place in the Conference USA standings with a 7-2 record.
The Gamecocks (23-13, 6-6 CUSA) outscored FIU (25-11, 8-4 CUSA) 21-11 across the three-game series, evening its Conference USA record back out to .500.
Jax State poured it on offensively in the first game, wasting no time with
Emma Elrod launching a two-run homer in the first inning. FIU responded quickly, taking a 3-2 advantage into the bottom of the second, but it was all Jax State the rest of the first contest.
The Gamecocks answered again in the home half of the second, courtesy of a
Jaci Underwood RBI double and a
Morgan Nowakowski single to left field, regaining the lead at 4-2.
Three freshmen teamed up to tack on four more in the third with
Aria Davis doubling home a run,
Haleigh Cushingberry tripling home a second and Underwood leaving the yard for a two-run homer of her own.
Makalyn Kyser tacked on two more with an RBI single in the fourth, her second hit of the season. Kyser's first hit of the year came yesterday in the fashion of a three-run homer, helping Jax State to a series opening win.
Amber Reed capped off the game with an exclamation point, enacting the run rule with an RBI triple.
Jordan Eslinger and
Jaliyah Holmes teamed up on the mound in the first game on Saturday, combining for 5.0 innings, allowing just three earned runs with four strikeouts.
Jax State looked to follow up the game one performance by completing the series sweep, but fell behind early due to a barrage of first inning FIU hits. The Panthers added five runs on six hits in the first inning of the second game, only scoring one run on five hits over the final six innings.
After a Jax State pitching change, the Gamecocks escaped the jam and looked to claw back. With a sacrifice fly and bases loaded hit by pitch. Jax State added another in the second inning following a Nowakowski walk, Elrod double and Reed sacrifice fly.
Jax State pulled within two after the second frame, but offense was tough to come by after scoring 14 runs in the first seven innings of action on Saturday.
The Gamecocks weren't able to manage a comeback in the final game, leaving six runners stranded on base across the final four innings of play.
Holmes pitched well in relief of game two, allowing just one earned run in 5.0 innings of work.
Kat Carter finished out the game for Jax State, tossing 1.2 innings, facing the minimum five batters.
Elrod shined for Jax State in the doubleheader, finishing her twinbill with a 5-for-8 outing, including a two-run shot. Reed, Davis and Underwood each managed a pair of hits in Saturday's opener while
Ashley Phillips finished with a multi-hit game in the second contest.
Jax State travels to Chattanooga for a midweek contest on Wednesday, April 2.
Admission to all Jax State Softball games is free courtesy of Martin's
