JACKSONVILLE, Ala. — Jana McGinnis Field will be the site of a three-game series between two of the best hitting teams in Conference USA: The Jax State Gamecocks (27-10, 11-1 CUSA) and the New Mexico State Aggies (17-18, 7-5 CUSA), beginning on Thursday night at 6 p.m.
At the plate, Jax State has been red hot recently, totaling at least seven hits in four of its last six games. Heading this effort is junior
Amber Reed who is batting .414 in her last ten games with 12 hits, including four doubles, along with batting in nine runs with a .655 slugging percentage. Reed enters the weekend on a nine-game hitting streak and a 14-game reached base streak.
The Gamecocks sit in first place in the conference by a two-game margin and have won 10 straight conference games, including three consecutive series sweeps over Western Kentucky, Louisiana Tech and FIU.
On the other side, the Aggies currently lead the league in hits (116), home runs (28), RBIs (80), total bases (223) and slugging percentage (.656) and currently sit in second place in team batting average (.341). Despite sitting in fifth place in the conference, New Mexico State can pack a punch at the plate when necessary.
To combat that, Jax State's pitching staff has been on a heater as well in league play. The Gamecocks' pitching staff ranks first in the conference in ERA (1.77), hits allowed (65), runs allowed (23), and opposing batting average (.214). As a unit, Jax State pitchers have allowed just 12 total runs to conference opponents over its last six games.
Jax State's one-two punch in the circle consisting of senior
Jaliyah Holmes and freshman
Makenna Moore have been a large part of this success, as the duo rank first and second in the league in ERA in conference games, respectively. Additionally, Moore has allowed just four runs to conference opponents in 30.5 innings pitched against them.
The Gamecocks are coming off their most recent win against the Alabama State Hornets, picking up an 11-3 win in five innings at home on Tuesday night. Jax State tallied 10 hits as a team, with seven different patters picking up at least one hit throughout the night for its fourth straight win.
New Mexico State comes into the weekend after losing its most recent series to Western Kentucky, in which it run ruled the Hilltoppers in game one, but fell in the remaining two contests. The Aggies have currently lost five of their last eight contests overall.
Leading New Mexico State at the plate this season is Faith Aragon who boasts a .417 average this season with 45 hits, including 10 doubles and seven home runs. Alongside her is the team's second hitter batting over .400, Devin Elam, who bats .402 this season with 39 hits, including a team-leading 11 home runs this season.
This weekend's action will begin on Thursday night and wrap up on Saturday morning at 11 a.m. Fans can follow on ESPN+, online with live stats, or with free admission to Jana McGinnis Field, brought to you by Martin's Family Clothing.
