JACKSONVILLE – Purdue evened the weekend series with Jacksonville State after posting a 9-5 win over the Gamecocks on Saturday afternoon at Rudy Abbott Field at
Jim Case Stadium.
Fir the second consecutive weekend, Jax State will have a rubber game on Sunday to determine the series. JSU (9-11) blanked the Boilermakers (4-13) on Friday night before Purdue bounced back on Saturday.
Purdue overcame a 1-0 deficit with a nine-run fifth inning. The Boilermakers made the big inning stand up as JSU put up four runs in the final two innings, including a three-run eighth inning. The Boilermakers, who entered the fifth inning without a run in the last 16 innings dating back to Wednesday's contest at Indiana State.
The Boilermakers were able to get to Jax State starter
Trey Fortner after he went through the first four innings with allowing two hits and fanned five in the first four frames. Back-to-back singles started the six-hit frame along with a JSU error and a pair of hit-by-pitches. The big hit in the inning came from Purdue's Nick Evarts as he cleared the bases with triple down in to the right field corner. Fortner was touched for six hits, seven runs – five earned runs.
Fortner was staked to an early lead as JSU scored a run in the first inning for the second consecutive game. A leadoff walk by Purdue starter Patrick J. Smith to JSU's
Tre Kirklin was the lone run Smith surrendered in his six innings of work. Junior
Alex Webb put a ball in play to drive in the first of his three RBI on the day. Smith allowed a pair of JSU hits and turned in eight strikeouts in the win.
Webb connected on a two-run double in the eighth inning to highlight JSU's three-run frame. Redshirt Freshman
Nash Adams, who had the grand slam in JSU's walk off win against Troy, turned in a triple and a double in his final two plate appearances. Kirklin,
Tanner Anderson,
Cole Frederick and
Grant Atkins all had hits in the setback.
The final game of the series between JSU and Purdue is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. on Rudy Abbott Field at
Jim Case Stadium. For ticket information log on to JSUGamecockSports,com. All JSU students and fans 18 years old and younger are admitted free. Sunday's matinee will also be available on ESPN+ and the Gamecock Sports Network.
