JACKSONVILLE, Ala. — Facing a two-run deficit after going scoreless and hitless through five innings of play, the Jax State softball team amped it up when it counted most and put together a six-run sixth inning to defeat the New Mexico State Aggies 6-3 on Thursday night at Jana McGinnis Field.

After being at the door of their second conference loss, Jax State's late-game rally allowed the Gamecocks to hang on for its 11^th straight win in league play and fifth straight win overall. It is the third home game in conference play in which head coach Julie Boland's squad has faced a deficit in the sixth inning and went on to win.

The Aggies controlled the scoreboard from the beginning of the game, hitting a solo home run in the top of the first with two outs to plate the first score of the game, and then added to the tally in the fourth inning with another solo homer.

Meanwhile, the Gamecocks continued to struggle at the plate, only having three total base runners available across the first five innings of play. After holding New Mexico State scoreless in the fifth and sixth, Jax State was down to its final opportunities to keep the game alive and did just that in the sixth.

Junior leadoff batter Emma Elrod kicked things off with a single for the team's first hit of the game in the frame, then a pair of back-to-back fielding errors from the Aggie defense allowed for Elrod to later score. Following her was Ashley Phillips who singled home a run to tie everything up at two runs apiece.

Facing two outs with the bases loaded in a pivotal at-bat, sophomore Jaci Underwood proceeded to rip a triple into deep right field to clear the bases and bring home three runs for the Gamecocks.
Previously, Underwood had been batting 2-for-25 in conference play up until that point.

Adding on to the scoring pile was freshman Mikayla Deville who grounded an infield single to third base to bring home Underwood for Jax State's final run of the evening.

Freshman Makenna Moore was the winning pitcher in the contest, earning her 10^th win of the season as she allowed three runs off six hits and two walks, while pitching all seven innings. Additionally, Moore tallied five strikeouts for the sixth time this year.

Four different batters tallied one hit in the contest, with Underwood's three RBIs leading all batters in the category. Her triple was Jax State's first three-bagger since March 15 against Western Kentucky.

The Gamecocks continue action against New Mexico State on Friday at 6 p.m. at Jana McGinnis Field.