JACKSONVILLE, Ala. — Jax State won its third consecutive game and its first home game of Conference USA play against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on Friday night at Jana McGinnis Field with a 4-2 victory.

The Gamecocks (18-8, 3-1 CUSA) took advantage of timely hitting late in the game to go on a crucial sixth inning rally to put the game out of reach for Western Kentucky despite a final retaliation attempt in the seventh.

It was a pitchers' duel in Jacksonville from first pitch as both teams combined for just four hits through the first four innings of play.

The Hilltoppers (19-4, 3-1 CUSA) had its first opportunity to score in the third inning after a one-out triple, followed by a walk, put Western Kentucky in prime scoring position that was negated with a double play by the Gamecock defense.

Freshman Makenna Moore pitched the first 4.1 innings for Jax State, allowing no runs off three hits and four walks, along with two strikeouts before junior MacKinley Portillo came in relief in the top of the fifth.

After both teams went scoreless in the fifth, it came down to the sixth inning before the Gamecocks could find the scoreboard, and did so quickly.

With one out and a runner on first, Amber Reed lifted a double into deep center to kick off the late scoring rally for Jax State. Soon after, Haleigh Cushingberry got in on the action with an RBI single herself, followed by a two-RBI single down the left field line by Emma Elrod to make it a 4-0 game in the bottom of the sixth.

With one last chance to come back, the Hilltoppers managed to score two runs off of back-to-back RBI singles, but it would not be enough to overcome the deficit.

Portillo earned the win in the circle, improving her season record to 5-4. The junior arm pitched 2.2 innings, allowing two runs off two hits and two walks, along with two strikeouts as well.

Elrod and Reed both picked up two hits apiece and combined for three RBIs between the pair, with Cushingberry responsible for the other RBI. Kailey Martin, Ashley Phillips, Jaci Underwood and Cushingberry each tallied one hit each in the contest.

The Gamecocks will face off against Western Kentucky in game two of the series on Saturday afternoon at Jana McGinnis Field at 1 p.m.