Friday, May 8
Newark, Del.
4:40 p.m.
Jax State
44-14
5
vs
2
No. 2 WKU
39-14
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Ky. | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| Jacksonville St. | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | X | 5 | 9 | 0 |
Photo by: JSU Sports Information
5/8/2026 6:56:00 PM | Softball
NEWARK, Del.—Jax State got key contributions from its seniors in its elimination game against Western Kentucky Friday night to advance to their second consecutive Conference USA title game.
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Jaliyah Holmes spun a gem in the pitching circle, and at the plate Morgan Nowakowski and Ashley Phillips both homered to help the Gamecocks (44-14) defeat WKU 5-2.
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Holmes struck out three and allowed two earned on five hits to pick up her 18th win of the season.
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Trailing by a run, the Gamecocks threatened in the first with runners at second and third after Nowakowski was hit by a pitch and Amber Reed singled to center field, but a strikeout ended the inning. Jax State also had second and third with one out in the second after a single to left center by Phillips and a double to the right field wall by Jaci Underwood. An RBI single over the head of the shortstop by Haleigh Cushingberry tied the game.
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Cushingberry was one of three Gamecocks with two hits, joining Reed and Phillips.
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Nowakowski then launched a ball into the parking lot for a three-run homer to give her team a 4-1 lead.
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The Hilltoppers were kept quiet until getting two on with two out in the sixth, but Holmes came up with a big strikeout against Maci Masters, which led WKU in homers.
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Phillips' 24th career homer and eighth of the season came in the bottom of the sixth to give the Gamecocks some extra breathing room.
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WKU got a double to lead off the top of the seventh, but was thrown out at third on a great relay throw from Nowakowski. It was a significant out as Kennedy Stinson homered to left during the next at bat.
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The Gamecocks will face Liberty on Saturday at noon Eastern Time on CBS Sports Network for the championship.
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Jaliyah Holmes spun a gem in the pitching circle, and at the plate Morgan Nowakowski and Ashley Phillips both homered to help the Gamecocks (44-14) defeat WKU 5-2.
Â
Holmes struck out three and allowed two earned on five hits to pick up her 18th win of the season.
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Trailing by a run, the Gamecocks threatened in the first with runners at second and third after Nowakowski was hit by a pitch and Amber Reed singled to center field, but a strikeout ended the inning. Jax State also had second and third with one out in the second after a single to left center by Phillips and a double to the right field wall by Jaci Underwood. An RBI single over the head of the shortstop by Haleigh Cushingberry tied the game.
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Cushingberry was one of three Gamecocks with two hits, joining Reed and Phillips.
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Nowakowski then launched a ball into the parking lot for a three-run homer to give her team a 4-1 lead.
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The Hilltoppers were kept quiet until getting two on with two out in the sixth, but Holmes came up with a big strikeout against Maci Masters, which led WKU in homers.
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Phillips' 24th career homer and eighth of the season came in the bottom of the sixth to give the Gamecocks some extra breathing room.
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WKU got a double to lead off the top of the seventh, but was thrown out at third on a great relay throw from Nowakowski. It was a significant out as Kennedy Stinson homered to left during the next at bat.
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The Gamecocks will face Liberty on Saturday at noon Eastern Time on CBS Sports Network for the championship.
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Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballTeam Stats
Pitching:
W: Holmes, Jaliyah (18-6)
L: Rylan Smith (10-7)
Batting:
2B: Jenna Blanton 1 ; Kendle White 1
HR: Kennedy Stinson 1
RBI: Annie White 1 ; Kennedy Stinson 1
SH: Lauren Satterly 1 ; Katie Murphy 1
SF: Annie White 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jenna Blanton 1 ; Kennedy Stinson 1
Batting:
2B: Reed, Amber 1 ; Underwood, Jaci 1
HR: Nowakowski, Morgan 1 ; Phillips, Ashley 1
RBI: Nowakowski, Morgan 3 ; Phillips, Ashley 1 ; Cushingberry, Haleigh 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nowakowski, Morgan 1 ; Phillips, Ashley 2 ; Underwood, Jaci 1 ; Cushingberry, Haleigh 1
HBP: Nowakowski, Morgan 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
2
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
3
Saturday, March 14
Saturday, March 14
Wednesday, March 11
Thursday, February 19
