JACKSONVILLE, Ala. — Following the Easter weekend, the Jax State softball team will play its first road game of the month of April, traveling to Atlanta to take on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (23-20, 8-10 ACC) on Tuesday night at 5 p.m. CT.
The Gamecocks (29-11, 13-2 CUSA) have been on a tear recently, winning nine of their last 11 games, while scoring six runs or more in five of their last six wins. Head coach
Julie Boland's squad remains in first place in Conference USA by a two-game margin after its most recent series against the New Mexico State Aggies.
Against the Aggies, Jax State won two of the three games of the weekend series, suffering its first conference loss since March 7 on Friday night. However, in the rubber match, the Gamecocks picked up 11 hits as a team, which is tied for the team's second-highest hit tally in conference play, en route to a 6-2 win to close out the weekend.
As a team, Jax State has batted .275 in its last 10 games, while allowing a .242 average from its opponents. Leading the Gamecocks at the plate during that span is junior outfielder
Emma Elrod, who has picked up 13 hits, including two doubles and two home runs, along with scoring a team-leading 10 times with a .382 batting average in those 10 games. Elrod is currently one of three players in Conference USA to rank in the top five in both hits (47, 5
th) and runs scored (36, 4
th) so far this season.
Jax State's pitching staff has been effective recently as well, allowing three runs or less in five of its last seven games. Freshman
Makenna Moore continues to be the ace in the circle for the Gamecocks as she ranks third in Conference USA in ERA (2.58) and opposing batting average (.198) throughout the year. In conference games, however, Moore leads the league in ERA (1.14) and ranks second in opposing batting average (.184).
Tuesday night's contest against Georgia Tech will feature Jax State's first and only ACC opponent of the season. Last year, the Gamecocks hosted the Yellow Jackets and suffered a 6-3 loss at Jana McGinnis Field.
Georgia Tech enters the midweek battle on a four-game win streak, including a sweep over Boston College this past weekend at home. The Yellow Jackets have won their last six home games and hold a 20-8 record at Mewborn Field this season.
Aileen Morales' team boasts seven batters that are hitting above .300 so far this season, with four of them having over 40 hits. Sophomore outfielder Alyssa Willer leads Georgia Tech at the plate with a .387 batting average with 48 hits, including nine doubles, eight home runs, along with 37 RBIs this season.
Tuesday night will be the first of nine straight road games for Jax State, as the Gamecocks will not return to Jana McGinnis Field until April 24. Jax State will stay in Georgia for the weekend as well, facing off against the Kennesaw State Owls for a three-game series.
