FINAL STATS

NATCHITOCHES, La. – Joe Scanio and Mason Melotakis combined to allow just two hits as Northwestern State claimed a 4-2 win over Jacksonville State in the season opener for both teams on Friday.
 
Scanio (1-0) allowed both hits in 6 2/3 innings on the mound and had six strikeouts to earn his first win of the year, while Mason Melotakis earned his first save of the year after recording the final seven outs. JSU's Aaron Elias (0-1) gave up all four runs in 4 1/3 innings to suffer the loss for the Gamecocks.
 
Northwestern State jumped out to an early lead after Will Watson led off with a single, while Nick Purdy walked and Matt Baca loaded the bases after being hit by an Elias pitch. Colin Bear followed with a sacrifice fly to score Watson, while Nick Hinojos and Drew Helenihi each had RBI singles to give the Demons a 3-0 lead.
 
NSU extended the lead in the fourth inning after Buckley had a RBI double to right center to make the score 4-0, but the Gamecocks got on the board in the top of the fifth inning.
 
Sam Eberle was hit by a pitch to lead off the fifth and Adam Miller then walked. Andrew Bishop had a RBI single to right center to score Eberle and put the Gamecocks on the scoreboard. Miller came in to score on a Jay Davis ground out to cut the lead to 4-2.
 
Jax State threatened in the seventh inning after Miller and Bishop both reached on back-to-back walks with two outs to chase Scanio from the game, but Melotakis was able to get pinch-hitter Cal Lambert out to end the inning.
 
Bradley Raulston pitched the final 3 2/3 innings of relief on the mound for the Gamecocks and did not allow a hit while recording three strikeouts.
 
The two teams will play the second game of the three game series on Saturday evening at 7 p.m., before playing the final game on Sunday at 1 p.m.