MURRAY, Ky. – For the third consecutive weekend, Jacksonville State will have a rubber game of a weekend series after bouncing back from a tough loss on Friday at Murray State to even the series with a 4-2 win over the Racers on Saturday at Reagan Field.

JSU entered the final game of the Eastern Illinois and Purdue series needing a win to secure the series.  The Gamecocks improved to 11-12 on the season and 3-2 in Ohio Valley Conference play, while MSU dropped to 9-13 overall and 5-3 in the conference.

After Murray State posted a come-from-behind win on Friday, Jax State thwarted a late-innings rally by the Racers.  The Racers erased a 2-0 deficit with a two-out double that plated the pair of runs to even the contest.  Just like Friday, the Gamecocks answered with the go-ahead run in the ninth inning.  Sophomore Cole Frederick scored on a wild pitch with the bases loaded and two outs in the frame.  Frederick, who had two hits on the day, started the inning with his second double of the day.  His first double in the fifth inning helped JSU break a scoreless contest.  Junior Alex Webb posted his fifth RBI of the weekend with a sacrifice fly that scored junior Chase Robinson.

Jax State starter Trey Fortner turned in another quality start on the mound, scattering three Racer hits in his 5.2 innings of work, which was his second-longest stint of his career.  The redshirt freshman right hander recorded three strikeouts and worked out of jams early in the contest.  The Racers stranded 11 on the contest, mostly while Fortner was on the bump.

JSU extended the lead to 2-0 in the seventh with an unearned run.  Sophomore Isaac Alexander scored on junior Devin Brown's fielder's choice.  Alexander turned in a game-high three hits in the affair.

The JSU bullpen was solid as Corley Woods, Tyler Wilburn, Austin Brewster and Jackson Tavel finished the contest.  Wilburn picked up his first win of the season after pitching an inning, while Tavel collected his first save as a Gamecock.  Brewster and Tavel combined to strike out the side in the MSU ninth.  MSU's Jase Carvel was saddled with the loss.

Sunday's rubber match is set for 1 p.m. and will be available on the Gamecock Sports Network.