JACKSONVILLE — Jax State baseball fell 6-3 to the New Mexico State Aggies to open a Conference USA series on Friday night.
Jax State falls to 34-9 and 16-3 in CUSA play, while the Aggies earn their 18th win of the season at 18-22 and eighth in CUSA play at 8-11.
Skyler Hutto was tagged with the loss after giving up the go-ahead three run homer. Julio Ramos was tagged with his first result of the season to move to 1-0.
The Aggies threw the first punch of the game with a three-run inning in the top of the third inning. All three runs scored on a via home runs, with Boston Vest leading off the inning with a solo homer, followed by a two-run homer from Chris Daniels to make the score 3-0.
Jax State scored a run in the bottom of the fourth inning with a Trey King solo homer, his first home run since March 1st at Memphis.
Jax State tied the game in the bottom of the seventh thanks to a two-RBI single to center field by pinch hitter Luke Williams, taking a 3-3 game into the closing innings of the game.
In the top of the ninth, the Aggies used the long ball to break the tie, with a three-run homer to right field by Aidan Taclas to take a 6-3 lead, the eventual final.
Maddox McDougall has a great outing in relief, striking out all seven batters that he faced between the top of the fourth and top of the sixth inning.
Despite the loss, the Gamecocks still hold the top spot in the CUSA standings. Liberty (three games behind) fell in their series opener to Delaware, 5-4. Missouri State's series opener at LA Tech was suspended in the seventh inning due to lightning, but the Bulldogs led the Bears 8-2.
Jax State looks to even the series on Saturday afternoon. First pitch from Beau Bryans is scheduled for 2 p.m.
