Friday, March 6
Lynchburg, Va.
6:00 PM ET
Liberty University
6-14, 0-1
1
vs
9
Jacksonville State
15-7, 1-0
1
2
3
4
5
6
R
H
E
Jacksonville St.
0
0
4
2
0
3
9
11
0
Liberty
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
4
1
Liberty Falls to Jax State 9-1 in CUSA Opener
3/6/2026 9:07:00 PM | Softball
LYNCHBURG, Va. – In a rematch of the 2025 CUSA Softball Championship title game, Jacksonville State topped Liberty 9-1 in six innings, Friday at Kamphuis Field at Liberty Softball Stadium.
The Gamecocks improve to 15-7 on the season, including 1-0 in CUSA play. Meanwhile, Liberty falls to 6-14 overall and 0-1 in conference games with its fourth setback in a row.
Jacksonville State 9, Liberty 1 (6 innings)
Scoring Summary
Jax State – 3rd INNING – Davis reaches on error, Kyser and Martin advance, Deville scores, 1-0
Jax State – 3rd INNING – Phillips doubles to right center, Davis, Kyser and Martin score, 4-0
Jax State – 4th INNING – Martin singles to left, Nowakowski advances, Elrod scores, 5-0
Jax State – 4th INNING – Kyser singles to right, Martin advances, Nowakowski scores, 6-0
Liberty – 5th INNING – Jessee RBI groundout, Whatley scores, 6-1
Jax State – 6th INNING – Davis doubles to right center, Cushingberry and Elrod score, 8-1
Jax State – 6th INNING – Phillips singles to right center, Davis scores, 9-1
Turning Point
The Lady Flames and Gamecocks contest game two of the series tomorrow at 3 p.m. at Liberty Softball Stadium.
The Gamecocks improve to 15-7 on the season, including 1-0 in CUSA play. Meanwhile, Liberty falls to 6-14 overall and 0-1 in conference games with its fourth setback in a row.
Jacksonville State 9, Liberty 1 (6 innings)
Scoring Summary
Jax State – 3rd INNING – Davis reaches on error, Kyser and Martin advance, Deville scores, 1-0
Jax State – 3rd INNING – Phillips doubles to right center, Davis, Kyser and Martin score, 4-0
Jax State – 4th INNING – Martin singles to left, Nowakowski advances, Elrod scores, 5-0
Jax State – 4th INNING – Kyser singles to right, Martin advances, Nowakowski scores, 6-0
Liberty – 5th INNING – Jessee RBI groundout, Whatley scores, 6-1
Jax State – 6th INNING – Davis doubles to right center, Cushingberry and Elrod score, 8-1
Jax State – 6th INNING – Phillips singles to right center, Davis scores, 9-1
Turning Point
- Jax State loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the third before an error extended the inning, pushing across the game's first run. The next batter, Ashley Phillips, hit a bases-clearing double to make it 4-0, with all four runs being unearned.
- The Gamecocks added two in the fourth and three in the sixth to complete the run-rule win.
- The visitors led 11-4 in hits, while the Lady Flames committed the game's lone error. The Gamecocks left nine runners on base, compared to five stranded by Liberty.
- Makenna Moore (4-1) earned the win, allowing one run on four hits, walking two and fanning one.
- Liberty started Gabby Mike (1-6) allowed four unearned runs in 2 2/3 innings, walking two. Caitlyn Nesbitt tossed 2/3 of and inning and Camden Anders pitched 2 2/3 innings.
- Kailey Martin batted 3-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored, while Ashley Phillips went 2-for-4 with a double and four RBI. Makalyn Kyser and Amber Reed had two hits each.
- Four different Lady Flames had one hit apiece, with Savanah Whatley doubling and scoring.
- Liberty is now 8-3 all-time against Jax State in softball, with the Lady Flames going 7-2 against the Gamecocks since joining Conference USA. The Lady Flames defeated Jax State 8-0 in five innings in the final game of the 2025 CUSA Softball Championship.
- Prior to today, Liberty had gone 9-1 in its last 10 conference openers. Tonight was the first time Liberty lost a conference opener since March 15, 2019 against Kennesaw State.
- Savannah Nash, making her first start in right field, robbed a homer in the fifth inning.
The Lady Flames and Gamecocks contest game two of the series tomorrow at 3 p.m. at Liberty Softball Stadium.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Makenna Moore (4-1)
L: Mike, Gabby (1-6)
Batting:
2B: Morgan Nowakowski 1 ; Makalyn Kyser 1 ; Aria Davis 1 ; Ashley Phillips 1
RBI: Kailey Martin 1 ; Makalyn Kyser 1 ; Aria Davis 2 ; Ashley Phillips 4
SH: Morgan Nowakowski 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Emma Elrod 2 ; Morgan Nowakowski 1 ; Kailey Martin 1 ; Haleigh Cushingberry 1 ; Makalyn Kyser 1 ; Aria Davis 2 ; Mikayla Deville 1
SB: Kailey Martin 1
Batting:
2B: Whatley, Savanah 1
RBI: Jessee, Savannah 1
SH: Fox, Ella 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Whatley, Savanah 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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P/UTL
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P/UTL
/ SoftballINF
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