JACKSONVILLE, Ala. — The Jax State softball team will head back to Georgia for the weekend, taking on the Kennesaw State Owls (7-28, 3-12 CUSA) for a three-game series, starting on Friday night at 4 p.m. at Bailey Park.
The Gamecocks (29-12, 13-2 CUSA) are red hot in conference play this season, winning 12 of their last 13 league games, including three series sweeps over Western Kentucky, Louisiana Tech and FIU. Currently, Jax State sits atop Conference USA by a two-game margin over Western Kentucky and Liberty.
Head coach
Julie Boland's squad has been consistent at the plate in conference games, picking up at least eight hits in four of its last six league games. Juniors
Emma Elrod and
Amber Reed have been two of Jax State's most feared hitters early in the lineup as the pair have both reached base at least once in the last 12 conference games, with Elrod picking up a base hit in each of those games.
The Gamecocks have been even more dominant in the circle, led by freshman
Makenna Moore. The reigning CUSA Pitcher of the Week leads CUSA in ERA (1.41) and wins (7) in league play, and has allowed just eight runs in her last eight appearances against conference opponents.
As a unit, Jax State's pitching staff is CUSA's best in ERA (2.02), runs allowed (33) and opposing batting average (.213), which has resulted in the Gamecocks outscoring conference opponents 45-22 in the last nine games.
Kennesaw State currently sits at the bottom of the CUSA standings and has won just two of its last 11 games. The Owls are coming off their most recent 13-5 loss to the No. 10 Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville on Wednesday night.
Selena Collins-Patterson's squad is led by senior Macie Howes who bats .432 this season which ranks sixth in the conference. The veteran catcher leads the team in hits, doubles, home runs, RBIs, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage. Howes has not produced a hit in just four out of her 36 games played.
Jax State will have the next week off before hitting the road once more, this time traveling up north to Missouri State for a three-game series, beginning on Friday night at 6 p.m. at Killian Stadium.
