JACKSONVILLE, Ala. — The Jax State softball team suffered a 5-4 loss to the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders (20-28, 6-18 CUSA) in the final game at Jana McGinnis Field this season.

Despite the Gamecocks (39-13, 21-3 CUSA) tallying 11 hits throughout the afternoon, an early deficit on the scoreboard was too much for Jax State to overcome throughout the latter innings.

The Gamecocks took no time getting runners aboard, as Emma Elrod led off with a walk and Morgan Nowakowski followed with a single. Soon after, Kailey Martin reached on a fielding error, which scored Elrod from third to plate the first run of the day for Jax State.

Following a scoreless second inning, Middle Tennessee retaliated with a pair of home runs to jump out to a 3-1 lead for its first lead of the game in the third, in which the Gamecocks battled back with a score in the bottom inning, via an RBI double by Amber Reed to score Nowakowski.

It took until the seventh inning for another runner to cross the board, and it came after the Blue Raiders singled home a run, followed by an RBI double soon after to hold a three-run advantage on the scoreboard. Down to its final three outs, Jax State attempted to mount a rally, but only managed to plate two runners to end the contest.

Of the eight Gamecocks that tallied a hit throughout the day, three of them had two hits, including Martin, Ashley Phillips and Mikayla Deville. The trio were responsible for three RBIs as well, including an RBI double by Phillips in the seventh.

Jax State split duties in the circle against the Blue Raiders, starting with senior Jaliyah Holmes who pitched three innings, allowing three runs off three hits, while tallying six strikeouts in her start. Taking her place in the fourth was freshman Yulai Woodruff who gave up two runs off three hits in just her 12^th appearance of the year.

The loss was the Gamecocks' first since April 7 against Georgia Tech and first conference loss since April 2 against New Mexico State, snapping a 10-game win streak.

Jax State will play its final three games of the regular season next weekend, traveling to Sam Houston for a three-game series, beginning next Thursday at 6 p.m.