JACKSONVILLE – After holding South Alabama scoreless for the first 16.2 innings of the midweek series, the Jaguars finally solved the JSU pitching staff in the last two innings to earn a series split with a 5-1 win on Wednesday at Rudy Abbott Field.

The Jaguars broke open a 1-1 ninth inning deadlock with four runs in their final at bat to halt a three-game losing streak and move to 26-16 overall.  JSU moved back to the .500 mark at 20-20 and now turns its attention to a critical Ohio Valley Conference weekend series with the Bruins of Belmont at Rudy Abbott Field this weekend.

JSU was looking to sweep the two-game set from its in-state rival after blanking the visitors from Mobile, 3-0, on Tuesday.  The Jax State pitching staff was superb in Tuesday night's contest and continued that momentum in to Wednesday's afternoon tilt.  Freshman Jack Pierce earned the starting nod and tossed the first three innings and not allowing a Jaguar hit.  USA was limited to just two hits on Tuesday and did not record its first hit on Wednesday until Daniel Martinez touched Colton Campbell for a single to left center.  JSU pitchers held USA hit-less for 8.1 innings until the Marinez base hit.

The Jaguar hurlers were equally impressive on Wednesday as they limited Jax State to just four hits and struck out 12 Gamecocks in the win.  JSU manufactured its lone run of the contest in the sixth off of USA starter Hunter Soleymani.  Freshman Clayton Daniel led off the inning with a walk, then stole second and pushed to third on a pass ball.  Senior Ryan Sebra picked up his team-leading 35^th RBI with a single to the left side of the diamond.

USA would equalize in the eighth with a run that was aided by JSU miscues.  Cole Billingsley started the frame with a hit by pitch and moved to third after a ground out and a wild pitch.  Billingsley was plated on Ben Gann's fly ball ball to centerfield.

The Jaguars' bats came to life in the ninth along with a costly Gamecock error in the frame.  Garrett DeGallier drew a one-out walk from Jesse Fry and pushed to third on a sacrifice bunt play that was mishandled by the JSU infield.  Ryan Raspino and Billingsley delivered back-to-back doubles to give USA the lead.  Bud Collura added the final run with an RBI single to right field.  Fry suffered the loss in the contest, while Ben Taylor, who threw the final 1.2 innings, was credited with the win.

The Gamecocks and Bruins begin the OVC three-game series on Friday at 6 p.m.  The series will continue on Saturday and Sunday with both game times set for 1 p.m.  All JSU students and fans 18 and under are admitted free.  Friday's series opener and the Saturday contest will also be available on the OVC Digital Network.  All three games will be aired on the Gamecock Sports Network.