BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Makalyn Kyser served up a two-run homer while the Jax State pitching staff kept No. 2 Western Kentucky at bay on Thursday for a 2-1 win over the Hilltoppers in the second round of the CUSA Tournament.
 
With a win, Jax State (36-20) advances to face off with No. 1 Liberty on Friday, May 9 at noon while Western Kentucky (29-20-1) faces Sam Houston this evening in an elimination game.

For the second consecutive game, Jax State catcher Makalyn Kyser launched a home run, this time in two-run fashion to lift the Gamecocks to victory. Kyser rocketed her eighth homer of the season off the scoreboard in right field in the fourth inning.

Kyser also hit a three-run home run in yesterday's 11-0 win over No. 6 Sam Houston.

WKU cut the Jax State advantage in half in the home half of the fourth inning after scoring on a wild pitch, but failed to plate a runner for the remainder of the contest.

MacKinley Portillo earned the starting nod for Jax State and took home her ninth victory of the year after managing 4.0 innings with just one run and four hits allowed.

Portillo gave way to Kat Carter who shut down the Hilltopper offense, throwing 3.0 scoreless frames and earning her fourth save of the year. Carter struck out three batters and now sits with 97 strikeouts on the season

Morgan Nowakowski reached base safely three times in Thursday's contest, tallying a single and two walks. With her two walks, Nowakowski's season total of 35 ties her for the sixth most by a Gamecock in a single season in program history.

Kyser also drew two walks, finishing her day 1-for-1 with the game-winning homer.

The Gamecocks have now matched the 36-win mark last reached by the 2019 OVC Championship Jax State team and are one win shy of having the most wins since the 2017 Gamecock team that went 41-12 and played in the Tallahassee Regional.

Jax State advances to play No. 1 Liberty on Friday at noon with the winner advancing to the CUSA Championship game on Friday.