JACKSONVILLE, Ala. — Jax State wrapped up the final day of the 2026 Jax State Tournament presented by Chick-Fil-A on Sunday afternoon, splitting contests between Northwestern State and Gardner-Webb.
The Gamecocks (11-5) had their second-biggest margin of victory so far this season against the Lady Demons in game one, winning 10-0 in just five innings, but were unable to carry their momentum against the Bulldogs as Jax State fell 8-2 to conclude the day.
Throughout the five-game stretch during the weekend, Jax State went 4-1 with wins over DePaul (2), Gardner-Webb and Northwestern State and combined to outscore its opponents 38-12.
The first game of the afternoon began slowly for both squads, as neither team could scratch across a run until the bottom of the second when
Mikayla Deville brought home
Maddie Mayo off an RBI single to score the first and only run of the frame.
Things changed quickly in the third inning, however, as the Gamecocks were able to tally seven runs, beginning with a solo home run by
Kailey Martin with one out. Following her was the trio at the bottom of the order of
Jaci Underwood,
Haleigh Cushingberry and Deville who each picked up an RBI, consecutively.
Head coach
Julie Boland's squad put the game out of reach in the fourth, highlighted by an RBI triple by Underwood for her second RBI of the day.
Underwood, Deville and
Morgan Nowakowski each picked up two hits and two RBIs each, with both of Nowakowski's hits being doubles. In total, the Gamecocks tallied six extra-base hits throughout the matchup.
Jaliyah Holmes took the reins in the circle for Jax State, giving up just two hits and never allowing a walk in five innings of action for her fourth win of the season.
The second contest of the day against the Bulldogs began the same for the Gamecocks, as neither team could score until Jax State put the first one on the board in the second inning as a result of a bases-loaded walk.
Gardner-Webb was able to respond quickly in the third after a solo home run to left field, followed by an RBI triple in the fourth put the Bulldogs ahead 2-1 at the halfway point.
Jax State evened it up at two runs apiece in the bottom half of the fourth frame after an RBI single by Deville (her third RBI across both games of the day), but was unable to scratch across anything else throughout the game.
The Bulldogs took control soon after, scoring a combined six runs through the fifth and six innings, featuring a two-run homer in the fifth and a two-RBI single in the sixth.
The Gamecocks only managed five hits against Gardner-Webb, with
Aria Davis responsible for three of those, including a double. Nowakowski and Deville were the only other two who picked up base hits.
Makenna Moore got the start for Jax State in game two of the day and struck out eight batters through her four innings of pitching. In her two appearances this weekend against DePaul and Gardner-Webb, Moore struck out a total of 23 batters.
After playing at home for the last six outings, the Gamecocks will hit the road again, traveling to West Georgia on Tuesday, Feb. 24 to take on the Wolves at 4 p.m. Central.
