Oxford – Freshman Isaac Alexander delivered a walk-off three-run home run to lift Jacksonville State over Radford, 4-2, on Friday afternoon at Choccolocco Park.
The Gamecocks moved to 4-1 on the season and bounced back from their first setback of the season with the come-from-behind win over the Highlanders (2-3). With weather concerns for Sunday, the two clubs will wrap up the three-game series on Saturday with a twinbill beginning at 12 p.m. Live stats will be available at JSUGamecockSports.com.
Trailing 2-1 entering the final plate appearance, sophomore Andrew Naismith turned in a one-put single to right field to spark the home dugout. Junior catcher Nic Gaddis was hit by a pitch from Radford's Austin Ross. Alexander sent a 2-2 pitch over the left field wall to give JSU the win in the series opener. It was JSU's first walk off home run since former Gamecock Jake Sharrock ended a game on a walk off against Murray State on April 10, 2010.
It was a tough day for both offenses as both starting pitchers turned in solid outings on the hill. Until the eighth inning, JSU had one hit – Naismith's first of two on the day in the second inning. RU starter Ryan Sande kept JSU off balance in his six innings of work, allowing the lone hit, but four walks in the outing. Sande recorded five strikeouts in his second start of the season. JSU broke through in the eighth with an RBI double by Clayton Daniel, which plated Nolan Greckel from first base.
Making his second appearance since returning from an injury last season, redshirt sophomore Garrett Farmer was equally impressive to Sande. Farmer collected a career-high nine strikeouts and allowed just two hits, but one of the hits was a two-run home run by Spencer Horwitz in the third. Farmer, from Huntsville, Alabama bounced back to retire the next 10 Highlanders before leaving the contest after six innings. JSU used Sean Rape for two outs in the seventh before Austin Brewster was ushered in to plug an RU threat in the frame. Brewster, from Trussville, Alabama via Shelton State Community College, picked up his first Gamecock win after finishing the final 2.1 innings. He registered a pair of strikeouts in the outing.
The Gamecocks' pitching staff collected 11 strikeouts and issued two walks in the contest.
JSU will send junior Derrick Adams to the mound in the first game of the doubleheader, while senior Colton Pate will take the ball in the series finale.
