SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The Jax State softball team found itself down by six runs in the bottom of the fourth before scoring seven unanswered runs to defeat the Missouri State Bears 12-11 on Sunday afternoon at Killian Stadium to complete the series sweep.
In a high-scoring affair that featured at least one run scored in each inning by either team, the Gamecocks managed to find their stride in the latter half of the contest, rattling off seven of the team's 15 hits across the last three innings of play.
The come-from-behind victory was Jax State's second-largest comeback win of the season, just behind the Gamecocks' victory over Western Michigan on Feb. 15 where they overcame a seven-run deficit against the Broncos to win 16-12.
Both teams wasted no time to get the scoring started, as Jax State and Missouri State both posted three runs each in the first inning, each of which happened with two outs. The Gamecocks' scoring flurry was a result of three straight RBI singles from
Aria Davis,
Makalyn Kyser and
Ashley Phillips. The trio combined for seven RBIs throughout the afternoon.
Jax State managed to plate one in the top of the second as a response to the Bears' three-run home run in the bottom of the first. However, Missouri State claimed the lead in the bottom of the frame after an RBI single and a three-run home run to hold a 7-4 advantage early on. The scoreboard continued to favor the Bears following the conclusion of the fourth inning, as they held an 11-5 lead, but the Jax State defense was able to hold Missouri State scoreless for the rest of the day
The Gamecocks proceeded to slowly chip away at the large deficit, scoring one in the fifth and plating three scores each in the sixth and seventh frames. Continuing her impressive series on the road, Kyser was responsible for four of Jax State's last seven runs of the day, including the game-winning RBI single to give her a total of 12 RBIs throughout the weekend.
Reed and Kyser each picked up three hits against the Bears in game three, including a home run from both hitters as well. The duo additionally combined for six RBIs as well. Alongside the pair,
Emma Elrod and
Kailey Martin claimed two base hits each with both picking up a double in the process.
Earning her second consecutive victory of the weekend, senior pitcher
Jaliyah Holmes entered the contest in the bottom of the fourth and proceeded to pitch 3.1 innings in which she did not surrender a run. The win was Holmes' 13
th of the season.
Jax State will continue its road trip next week as well, traveling to Alabama State on Tuesday night, followed by a contest at Chattanooga on Wednesday to wrap up the non-conference schedule.
