JACKSONVILLE – The Gamecocks return to the diamond with a three-game series against Valparaiso this weekend at Rudy Abbott Field, and it marks the first meeting between the two teams since 1979.
 
Jacksonville State (2-1) won two-of-three against Northwestern State, while the Crusaders also won two-of-three in the their opening weekend after beating Samford last week. JSU sweep both meetings between the two teams during the 1979 season.
 
Senior infielder Andrew Bishop was 5-for-10 with a pair of doubles and two RBI in the opening weekend, while Peyton Williams hit .429 (3-7) vs the Demons last weekend to lead the Gamecocks at the plate.
 
Valpo was just a strike away from a sweep over Samford last Sunday, but a walkoff grand slam allowed the Bulldogs to salvage one game of the three-game series. Spender Mahoney was 7-for-12 from the plate with four walked to earn Horizon League Player of the Week honors.
 
Senior right-hander Taylor Shields (1-0, 1.80) will get the start in Friday's series opener against Valpo's senior right-hander Cole Webb (1-0, 3.00), while junior Zachary Fowler (RHP, 0-0, 9.00 ) will face Drew Hasler (RHP, 0-0, 11.25) on Saturday. Left-hander Adam Polk (0-1, 4.91) will look for his first win of the season against freshman Mario Losi (0-0, 1.29) in the series-finale on Sunday afternoon.
 
The series will also feature two of the top closers in the country, as both are named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America's 2014 Preseason Stopper of the Year Watch List. JSU's Travis Stout, who set a school record with 17 saves last year, picked up a pair of saves last weekend, while Valpo's Karch Kowalzcyk also had a pair of saves in the opening weekend.
 
Friday's opening game of the series begins at 3 p.m. at Rudy Abbott Field and will be carried on the JSU Radio Network. The games on Saturday and Sunday will each begin at 1 p.m. and live stats are available at JSUGamecockSports.com.