JACKSONVILLE – Junior Andrew Naismith delivered a two-run walk off home run in the opening game of a Saturday doubleheader with North Alabama to propel Jacksonville State to a 12-10 series-clinching win.

The Lions of UNA regrouped in the nightcap with a 2-1 decision.  The win was the program's first as an NCAA Division I member.  The Gamecocks, who opened the season with a trouncing of the Lions, 14-1, on Friday, finished the opening weekend 2-1 and claimed their fifth consecutive opening weekend series win, dating back to the 2014 season.  The opening weekend of the new Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium brought energized crowds despite dreary and cold weather condition.  On Friday, JSU had 1,112 for its Opening Day attendance and over 800 braved the cooler temps for Saturday's double dip.

In Game one, the Gamecocks rallied from a four-run deficit in the eighth after trailing 9-5.  The big hit came from sophomore Cole Frederick as the Tuscaloosa, Alabama native belted a bases-clearing triple to the gap in left center.  Redshirt freshman Nash Adams drove in the first run of the inning with a sacrifice fly.

UNA responded with an RBI double by Reid Singewald in the ninth to take a 10-9 lead.  Junior transfer Alex Webb, who finished the first weekend in Red and White 5-for-9 at the plate and three RBI.  He delivered a game-tying RBI in the ninth before the heroics of Naismith.  Naismith pelted a 2-1 pitch over the centerfield fence to give Jax State the series-clinching win.  It was Naismith's 18^th home run of his career.

Both teams got off to rocky starts on the mound as JSU went with true freshman Isaiah Magwood in the first game.  Magwood, who brings high credentials from the prep level, struggled in his first start with three runs on four hits and issuing five walks in 1.1 innings of work.  The Hazel Green, Alabama right hander picked up three strikeouts in the outing.

JSU continued to be aggressive at the plate after compiling 14 runs on 14 hits on Friday as it turned in a three spot in the first inning.  Junior Taylor Craven registered a two-run triple, while sophomore Isaac Alexander singled to shortstop for the third run.  UNA bounced back with three runs in the second inning before JSU reclaimed the lead in the home half of the second inning.  Adams and senior Nic Gaddis had the RBI in the second inning. 

UNA's Davis Elliott carded the first of two home runs in back-to-back plate appearances with a home run in the fifth and the seventh.

JSU newcomer Jackson Tavel, who comes to the program from Dora, Alabama via Wallace State-Hanceville Community College, pitched the ninth and was credited with the win.  UNA's Hunter Davidson was saddled with the loss.

In game two, UNA broke the scoreless log jam in the third with an RBI from Reid Homan and Elliott continued his solid day at the plate with an RBI double in the fourth.

The two-run cushion would be all that the UNA pitchers needed as Jacob Laws went the first four innings and limited JSU to a pair of hits.  Keegan Foge tossed a pair of innings and allowed a hit.  Jax State was able to score its run off of Bryant Claunch in the bottom of the eighth.

JSU had chances throughout the contest for a big inning as it stranded 11 on the bases, including a pair of bases loaded situations.  Webb had the RBI in the second game on a sacrifice fly.
The Gamecocks went with another new face on the mound to start the final game of the series as redshirt freshman Trey Fortner pitched the first five innings.  The Gloucester, Virginia righty was touched for five hits and both UNA runs.  Redshirt Junior Tyler Wilburn and sophomore Christian Edwards combined six strikeouts over the last four innings.  Edwards was named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award Watch List prior to the start of the 2019 season.

After ushering in its new stadium during the opening weekend of the season, the Gamecocks will now hit the road for a six-game road trip to close out the month of February.  The road trip begins on Tuesday in Tuscaloosa against Alabama.  The midweek meeting is the first of a home-and-home with the Crimson Tide.  UA will visit Jacksonville on April 24.  JSU's first road weekend series will be at Jacksonville, followed by a midweek set against in-state foes UAB at Regions Field on February 26 and at Troy the following night.  JSU returns to the confines of Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium on Friday, March 1 to begin a three-game series with Florida International.