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.
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.
Holmes struck out three and allowed two earned on five hits to pick up her 18
th win of the season.
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.
Cushingberry was one of three Gamecocks with two hits, joining Reed and Phillips.
Nowakowski then launched a ball into the parking lot for a three-run homer to give her team a 4-1 lead.
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.
Phillips' 24
th career homer and eighth of the season came in the bottom of the sixth to give the Gamecocks some extra breathing room.
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.
The Gamecocks will face Liberty on Saturday at noon Eastern Time on CBS Sports Network for the championship.
