JACKSONVILLE – For the second consecutive Friday night, Jacksonville State dropped a 2-1 decision as Florida International claimed the opening game of the weekend series on Friday night at Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium.

A week ago, the Gamecocks (4-6) suffered the result and margin against Jacksonville as the Panthers spoiled another superb pitching performance by junior redshirt Garrett Farmer.  It was a classic pitching duel between Farmer and FIU's Logan Allen.  The two pitchers combined for 24 strikeouts in the contest.  Farmer, who tossed 16 scoreless innings dating back to his opening day start against North Alabama.  Last week at JU, the Huntsville, Alabama native threw seven shutout frames and issued a pair of hits. Against FIU, he matched his career high in strikeouts by fanning 12 Panthers.  He posted 12 against UT Martin on May 11, 2018 at Choccolocco Park.

FIU (4-4) broke the scoreless deadlock in the sixth with a run, but Framer limited the damage after FIU had the bases loaded in the frame.  Javier Valdes broke up a no-hit bid by Farmer with a leadoff triple to left centerfield.  Valdes scored on Jose Garcia's single to left field.  Farmer was touched for an infield single and an intentional walk to load the bases before inducing a pop fly on the infield.  The game0winning run came in the ninth as Austin Shenton started the inning with a solo home ruin.

Allen led the Panther pitching staff with 12 of the 18 strikeouts combined by the six FIU pitchers used in the affair.  Allen did not fare in the decision as JSU equalized in the eighth.

Senior Nic Gaddis' solo home run to leadoff the eighth accounted for the Jax State offense.  Gaddis greeted FIU reliever Gio Soto with his third home run of the season.  The Trenton, Georgia product has been a thorn for the Panthers in the last four games.  Last season, Gaddis went 8-for-12 in Miami and had nine RBI.  He has now reached base in nine of the 10 games this season.

Juniors Alex Webb and Devin Brown each had a hit for the Gamecocks.  Webb reached base three times with a walk and hit by pitch.  His hit in the third inning was the first of the game by either club.  Brown delivered a one-out single in the fifth.  The Gamecocks stranded 10 on the bases paths as FIU issued seven free passes.

JSU's Austin Brewster (1-1) was saddled with the loss, while FIU's Jose Machado (1-0) garnered the win and Will Sexton finished with a save.

The two clubs will play a Saturday doubleheader to close out the two-day, three-game series due to weather concerns on Sunday.  First pitch is set for 1 p.m.  Tickets are available at JSUGamecockSports.com and all JSU students and fans 18 years old and younger are admitted free.  The twibil bill will also be streamed on ESPN+.