NEWARK, Del.—The Conference USA Pitcher of the Year lived up to her billing by tossing a complete game shutout in her first postseason appearance.
Makenna Moore struck out six and allowed just three hits to help top-seeded Jax State defeat Delaware 7-0 to earn a spot in tomorrow's semifinal game against the winner of the Western Kentucky vs. Liberty game at 11 a.m. Central.
Moore ran into trouble in the second when Delaware loaded the bases, but she calmly coaxed an infield popup to retire the side. She also got out of a jam in the sixth when the Fightin' Blue Hens got two on with one out with back-to-back strikeouts.
The offense gave the freshman more than enough help, coming through with seven runs on seven hits.
A groundout by
Aria Davis brought home
Morgan Nowakowski with one out in the first to get the Gamecocks their first run.
Nowakowski came through with a three-hit, two-run day, and drove in a pair of runs. The highlight was driving a ball to center field with two outs in the second with two runners on, bringing home
Jaci Underwood from second. The ball was misplayed which allowed Nowakowski to reach second and
Emma Elrod to score. Nowakowski went for third and the throw from left field went into the Delaware dugout allowing Nowakowski to score to make it 4-0.
Elrod picked up an RBI in the fourth with a sacrifice fly to bring home Underwood, who was 3-for-3 with three runs scored. Nowakowski picked up her second RBI of the day with a single in the fourth.
Underwood scored her third run of the game with two outs in the sixth on a ball that was misplayed at third.
