JACKSONVILLE –
Jaliyah Holmes served 7.0 scoreless innings on the way to a complete game shutout on Sunday, giving Jax State a 2-0 victory and series win over the Sam Houston Bearkats. Jax State is now in third place in the Conference USA standings.
With a win over the Bearkats (25-25, 12-11 CUSA) on Saturday, Jax State (32-18, 14-9 CUSA) has now won eight of its last nine games dating back to April 11.
Holmes took a pair of innings to get settled, allowing five base runners in the first two frames. The junior never relented however, leaving two Bearkats stranded in the first and escaping a bases loaded jam in the second,
The Gamecocks served a similar fate in the early innings, also stranding five base runners, including a bases loaded result in the second inning.
After a walk in the second inning, Holmes retired 15 of her final 17 batters of the game.
Jax State managed to finally break through in the fifth inning after
Morgan Nowakowski walked to lead off the inning.
Ella Pate entered the contest to pinch run for Nowakowski and would come in to score following a
Megan Rasmussen pinch hit single and Sam Houston throwing error.
The Gamecocks added an insurance run when
Kailey Martin and
Haleigh Cushingberry teamed up for a pair of hits, leading to a 2-0 Gamecock advantage.
Holmes' fourth shutout of the season came in the fashion of 7.0 innings and four hits while only allowing one walk. Holmes tallied three strikeouts in the contest, bringing her season total to 73 punchouts.
Three Gamecocks managed multiple hits, including
Emma Elrod, with her team-leading 65th and 66th hits on the campaign. Cushingberry and Martin also each finished their day 2-for-2.
Jax State and Sam Houston will reconvene at Jana McGinnis Field on Sunday at noon for the third and final game of the series. Prior to Sunday's game will be a senior day celebration where the Gamecocks will honor
Kat Carter,
Hannah Buffington and
Jordan Eslinger.
Admission to all Jax State Softball games is free courtesy of Martin's Family Clothing.
