JACKSONVILLE – Junior Chase Robinson's two-run blast in the eighth inning was the difference in Jacksonville State's 5-3 series-opening win over Tennessee Tech on Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium on Friday night.

Robinson delivered the game-winning two-run home run after the Golden Eagles rallied to even the contest that JSU was in control of until that inning.  Junior Isaac Alexander reached with a one-out single before Robinson pelted a 2-1 pitch from Tech's Daniel Holley 365 feet over the left field fence.  It was the Pell City, Alabama native's second of the season after posting his first home run of the season back on March 9 against Eastern Illinois. Robinson finished the day 2-for-4 with a double in hist first at bat.

The drama was not quite done after Robinson handed his club a two-run lead going to the final frame.  Tech's first two hitters reached with base hits and a a two-out walk loaded the bases with the OVC's reigning Player of the Year and preseason Player of the Year in Kevin Strohschein coming to the plate.  Senior Austin Brewster, who recorded back-to-back strikeouts, induced a ground ball to Alexander for the final out of the contest.  It was the first time on Friday that Strohschein was retired on the night after three hits in his first four plate appearances.  Brewster was credited with his first career save and Tavel tuned in a win and moved to 3-1 on the season.

The Friday night win moved JSU to 12-14 overall and 4-3 in OVC play, while the loss dropped TTU to 11-13 on the season and 2-8 against league opponents.  Game two of the weekend series is set for Saturday at 6 p.m.  The series finale will get started at 1 p.m. on Sunday.  Tickets are available on JSUGamecockSports.com and all JSU students and fans 18 years old and younger are admitted free.

Redshirt junior Garrett Farmer was the main reason why Jax State was in control of the contest until the eighth.  The right hander from Huntsville, Alabama turned in 7.1 innings of work and collected nine strikeouts in the outing.  Farmer was touched for six hits and two of the three runs in TTU's three-run eighth inning.  Sophomore Christian Edwards recorded a strikeout for the second out of the eighth before Tech's John Dyer connected on a two-out, two-run single to tie the game.

JSU put its first run on the board with an RBI double off the bat of junior Alex Webb.  Webb's double scored sophomore Cole Frederick from first base.  Webb led all Gamecocks with three hits in the affair, including a second double to start the sixth inning.  Junior Andrew Naismith had a pinch hit RBI single in the same inning. 

Jax State manufactured the third run of the game in the seventh.  Redshirt freshman Nash Adams started the frame with a single and swiping second.  Junior Devin Brown moved Adams t third ahead of Frederick's RBI sacrifice fly.

Saturday's game will be available on ESPN+ and on the Gamecock Sports Network.