MIAMI, Fla.- The Jacksonville State baseball team dropped its opening day contest to Florida International, 5-0, on Friday evening in Miami, Florida.

The Gamecocks (0-1) struggled early to put runs on the board after touching FIU (1-0) starter Christopher Mourelle for four hits.  A pair of those hots came in JSU's half of the third after a pair of freshmen recorded their first collegiate hits.  Andrew Naismith, from Auburn, Alabama and earned the start at first base, started the third with a single up the middle.  JSU's new rightfielder, Chase Robinson pushed Naismith to third on a double to left center.  JSU was primed to put the first runs of the contest on the board, but Mourelle worked his way about the jam.  Mourelle, who picked up the win, went 6.0 innings against Jax State and posted a career-high seven strikeouts.  FIU's four pitchers combined to tally 10 strikeouts in the win.  Mourelle also avoided trouble in the fourth after Hayden White was in scoring position before Josh Bobo lined out to right field to end the threat.  White had one of JSU's five hits, while newcomer and Oxford, Alabama product Trent Simpson collected his first hit in a JSU uniform.

While Mourelle kept the Gamecocks off balance at the plate, JSU's opening day starter Garrett Farmer was equally impressive.  The sophomore from Huntsville, Alabama, who worked his way in to the weekend rotation as a freshman, turned in a quality start in the opener.  Farmer went five complete innings and did not allow an FIU hit until a two-out double by Nick Day in the fifth.  Before Day's double, Farmer retired nine of the 10 batters he faced thorough four frames.  The only Panther to reach base via a hit was a two-out walk in the second by JC Escarra.  Farmer recorded four strikeouts and was touched for the one run, which was driven in by Eddie Silva in the fifth after Day's double.

FIU used three pitchers over the final three frames to hold the Gamecocks scoreless.  Junior Clayton Daniel had the lone hit off the FIU bullpen as he extended his hitting streak to 11 games, dating back to the last 10 games of 2016.  The season-opening loss is the first for JSU since falling to Kennesaw State in 2013.

The Panthers added four insurance runs in the eighth to secure the win.  The Panthers posted the runs off of just two hits in the inning.  JSU used senior Nate Sylvester and junior Grant Chandler in relief.

Saturday's game will not be available via video stream, but live stats will be available at JSUGamecockSports.com.  JSU will send junior Colton Pate to mound in game two of the set, while FIU will counter with Dominic LoBrutto.