MURRAY, Ky. – Jacksonville State dropped its first Ohio Valley Conference road test with an 8-7 setback to Murray State on Friday afternoon at Reagan Field.

The loss dropped the Gamecocks to 10-12 on the season and evened its league mark to 2-2, while the Racers improved to 9-12 overall and 5-2 in OVC action.  The two clubs will play game two of the weekend series on Saturday at 1 p.m.  Weather concerns on Sunday may force a doubleheader on Saturday.

The Racers rallied throughout the game, erasing a 5-0 deficit and a 7-6 deficit in the bottom of the ninth.  After a sacrifice fly by Bryan Chilton with the bases loaded tied the game at 7-7, a fourth walk of the inning loaded the bases again.  Tyler Duke singled down the left field line to hand MSU a walk off win.  The Racers rallied off sophomore Christian Edwards, who suffered the loss after getting just two outs in the final frame.

Jax State looked to close out the contest after the Racers' first rally of the day with a two-run, game-tying eighth inning.  Freshman Carson Crowe connected on his first career home run as a Gamecock with a two-out, two-strike blast over the right field wall to give JSU the in the top of the ninth.

The Gamecocks got off to a hot start with its best run-producing inning of the season in the second inning.  Racer starter Trevor McMurray was chased after 1.2 innings as JSU strung together seven if its 13 hits in the second inning.  The highlight of the five-run frame was a three-run home run from junior Alex Webb.  Junior Tre Kirklin, who had a 4-for-6 day at the plate, registered the first of his hits with an RBI ahead of Webb's home run.  Junior Andrew Naismith added JSU's third double of the inning with an RBI two-bagger.  Junior Chase Robinson and sophomore Cole Frederick had the other two doubles. 

Webb added his fourth RBI of the day with a sacrifice fly in the eighth to extend JSU's lead to 6-4 after MSU trimmed it to 5-4 with a run in the sixth.

It was another solid performance by redshirt junior Garrett Farmer on the mound.  The Huntsville, Alabama native tossed the first six innings and was touched for four runs, but one earned run.  The Racers posted three unearned runs in the third.

The Racers' bullpen was key in keeping them in the contest as JSU was limited to five hits over the final seven plate appearances.  Joe Ivey went 4.1 innings and was touched for a pair of hits.

Duke and Jake Slunder, the top-two in the MSU order led the home club with two RBI each. 

Saturday's contest will be available on the Gamecock Sports Network.