KENNESAW, Ga. — It took until the fourth inning for the first run to be scored, but the Jax State softball team was off and running from then on as it run ruled the Kennesaw State Owls 8-0 in six innings in game two of the series on Saturday afternoon at Bailey Park.
Starting out as a pitcher's duel from the opening frame, everything changed quickly in the latter half of the contest, as the Gamecocks were able to load the bases multiple times throughout the fifth and sixth innings while holding the Owls to just two total baserunners from the third frame until the final out.
Through the first three innings of play, Jax State combined for just two hits as a team and stranded one of those runners in scoring position. However, the fourth inning would change the momentum immediately after a two-run home run by
Makalyn Kyser broke the scoreless tie at the midpoint of the ball game.
From there, it was all Gamecocks the rest of the way as they posted three runs in the fifth inning, via a wild pitch score by
Emma Elrod and a two-RBI single by Kyser to bring her tally to a team-high four RBIs on the day.
Additionally, Jax State added another three scores in the sixth inning, highlighted by a two-RBI single by Elrod, followed by an RBI double by Nowakowski which forced Kennesaw State's sixth pitching change of the afternoon.
Senior
Jaliyah Holmes had found her groove by the end of the day and finished off her complete game shutout victory with a strikeout. Holmes pitched all six innings, allowing no runs off five hits and no walks, along with picking up three strikeouts as well.
Amber Reed,
Jaci Underwood and Kyser each picked up two hits apiece throughout the afternoon, with Reed extending her reached base streak to 20 games and Kyser tallying her third four-RBI game of the season. Nowakowski's double in the sixth was the team's only extra-base hit aside from the home run, and was her 18
th double of the year.
The victory marks Jax State's ninth shutout win of the season over the eighth different team so far.
The Gamecocks will compete in the final game of the series on Sunday morning at 11 a.m. CT.
