JACKSONVILLE, Ala. — Jax State softball tallied its eighth shutout victory over its seventh different team this season, defeating the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs 3-0 at Jana McGinnis Field on Friday night.
The Gamecocks (21-9, 6-1 CUSA) opened up the three-game series against the Bulldogs with six hits as a team, leaving just two runners on base throughout the night, compared to Louisiana Tech's four hits that left eight runners stranded.
Both squads featured stellar arms in the circle, but freshman
Makenna Moore was able to get the better of the two in her complete game performance as she picked up her seventh win of the season, tallying eight strikeouts and giving up just four hits.
From the opening pitch, the Friday contest began as a pitcher's duel and remained that way all the way through as hits came at a premium.
However, after two scoreless innings, the Gamecocks were able to plate the first run of the night in the third frame after
Haleigh Cushingberry launched a double into left center that was bobbled by the fielder, allowing for Cushingberry to come all the way home to score.
The Bulldogs were unable to come up with a response on the scoreboard despite having two runners on base with just one out in the fifth, in which Moore proceeded to handle by dishing out two strikeouts in a row to end the inning.
Coming down to its final chance to extend the lead in the sixth, Jax State got the insurance runs it needed after
Kailey Martin belted a two-run home run on a rope to left center to bring home
Amber Reed as well.
Once again, Moore was able to take care of Louisiana Tech in the final frame, picking up her eighth strikeout of the night in the process.
Reed led the Gamecocks at the plate, going 2-for-3 on the night with a double that set up the Martin home run.
Emma Elrod,
Morgan Nowakowski, Cushingberry and Martin were each responsible for the other four hits that Jax State picked up in the evening.
The Gamecocks were calm under pressure on both sides of the field against the Bulldogs, batting 4-for-10 as a team with two outs, while also limiting Louisiana Tech to batting 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
Jax State will be back in action for the second game of the series against the Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. at Jana McGinnis Field.
