JACKSONVILLE, Ala. — Jax State rattled off 11 hits across nine different batters in a 13-3 victory in five innings over the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (19-27, 5-17 CUSA) on Friday night at Jana McGinnis Field.
The Gamecocks (38-12, 20-2 CUSA) reached the 20-win mark in conference play for the first time since 2021 in the ASUN and can clinch the first-place spot in the league with a win in game two on Saturday against Middle Tennessee.
The Gamecocks had a busy opening frame, as
Morgan Nowakowski tallied the first hit of the night with her 21
st double of the season, followed by a single by
Amber Reed to extend her reached-base streak to 27 games and to score Nowakowski from second. Soon after, Jax State loaded the bases quickly to set up a grand slam by
Ashley Phillips to extend the lead. Junior
Emma Elrod finished off the inning with an RBI single to make it a 6-0 game.
Following a scoreless second frame, the Blue Raiders found the scoreboard for the first time after a solo home run to center field, but the Gamecocks quickly retaliated in the bottom half of the inning with a three-run home run by Elrod, which was her fifth of the season.
In the fourth, the Gamecocks put the finishing touches on the performance by tacking on another four runs, highlighted by an RBI double by Elrod for her fifth RBI of the evening. Additionally,
Chaney Peters tallied her third RBI of the season after sacrifice fly in the inning.
Elrod led Jax State at the plate with a 3-for-4 day for her third three-hit game of the season. The junior outfielder also finished a triple shy of the cycle with five RBIs, including the three-run homer in the first inning.
The Gamecocks were walked four times as a team, which sets a new program record for most walks in a single season.
Senior pitcher
Jaliyah Holmes tallied her 15
th win of the season in the effort against the Blue Raiders, as the veteran arm tossed all five innings, giving up three runs off five hits and two walks, along with tallying seven strikeouts as well.
Jax State will take on Middle Tennessee for game two of the series on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.