JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Jax State completed a sweep in the Conference USA opening series over the UTEP Miners with a 5-3 win on Sunday at Jana McGinnis Field. Jax State outscored the Miners 21-9 across the three contests.
The Gamecocks (18-7, 3-0) found themselves trailing UTEP (10-12, 0-3) after the top of the fifth before rallying for four runs in the home half and hanging on for the win.
UTEP struck first in the series finale, following a leadoff walk that came around to score two batters later.
Ashley Phillips evened the score in the second inning, skying her third homer of the season to center field. Phillips capped off her week batting .583 in five games with a team-best eight RBI's.
MacKinley Portillo settled in following the opening inning run, tossing three consecutive scoreless frames before the Miners regained the lead in the fifth.
UTEP took the lead with an RBI single in the fifth before adding another on a dropped third strike play.
The Gamecocks stepped to the plate trailing by two and followed with the first four batters reaching base safely. A
Jaci Underwood single cut the deficit in half before
Amber Reed drove home Underwood on a sacrifice fly just three batters later.
Kailey Martin singled off the right field fence for another run and the lead while
Abbi Perkins helped Jax State add an insurance run with a sacrifice fly of her own.
Portillo finished the game with a final line of 7.0 innings, two earned runs and five strikeouts, only allowing three hits.
Despite the five run victory, no Gamecocks finished with multiple hits or multiple RBI's.
Jax State finishes the opening weekend of conference play as one of two CUSA teams undefeated, joining Liberty. The Gamecocks won games one and two of the series 6-0 and 10-7 respectively.
Jax State returns to Jana McGinnis Field on Tuesday, March 11 for a 5 p.m. first pitch against Samford. The contest with the Bulldogs was originally supposed to serve as the home opener before being postponed due to inclement weather.
Admission to all Jax State Softball games is free courtesy of Martin's Family Clothing.
