The Jacksonville State baseball team returns to action with a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series against Austin Peay this weekend at Rudy Abbott Field.
 
The Gamecocks (12-8, 4-2 OVC) returns home after a four-game road trip to host the Governors (8-11, 2-1), who were picked to finish second in this year's preseason poll.
 
Senior right-hander Taylor Shields (RHP, 3-1, 3.81 ERA) will start Friday's opening game on the mound and will face APSU's righty Alex Robles (1-1, 4.45 ERA).
 
Jacksonville State will start Zachary Fowler (3-1, 1.93 ERA), who has earned the OVC Pitcher of the Week honor twice this season, on Saturday against APSU's Levi Primasing (LHP, 2-0, 3.38).  Austin Peay will throw right-hander Caleb Powell on Sunday, while the Gamecocks have not announced their Sunday starter.
 
Senior catcher Stephen Bartlett leads the Gamecocks at the plate with a .600 batting average, going 15-or-25 in nine games, with six doubles and one home run. Senior outfielder Griff Gordon is batting .321, while junior Ryan Sebra is hitting .317 and shortstop Andrew Bishop leads the team with 35 RBI and is hitting .316.
 
Jacksonville State leads the all-time series against the Governors, 21-19, and the Gamecocks own a 9-4 mark against Austin Peay at Rudy Abbott Field.
 
Friday's game will begin at 6 p.m., while the games on Saturday and Sunday will begin at 1 p.m. each day. All three games will be carried on the JSU Radio Network and live stats are available at JSUGamecockSports.com.