JACKSONVILLE – Eastern Illinois forced a rubber game on Sunday with a 5-4 win over Jacksonville State after a ninth inning rally at Rudy Abbott Field at
Jim Case Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Gamecocks, who won Friday's series opener in 12 innings, 6-5, dropped to 6-10 on the season. The Panthers picked up their fourth win of the season after tallying two runs in the ninth.
A one-out walk in the ninth ignited EIU's comeback as back-to-back singles were put together off of JSU closer
Christian Edwards. Dane Toppel delivered the game-tying RBI with a base hit to single, followed by Hunter Morris' single to left field to give the visitors a 5-4 lead. JSU looked for another walk off victory or to extend the game in the bottom of the ninth after sophomore
Cole Frederick was issued a one-out walk and
Tre Kirklin beat out an infield hit. EIU's Spenser Dexter picked up the save after retiring JSU in its last plate appearance. Jack Wolfe, who finished the eighth inning, earned the win.
For the second consecutive game, EIU leadoff hitter Jimmy Govern connected on a solo home run off of Jax State starter
Trey Fortner. JSU answered with an RBI single by
Alex Webb in its first at bat. Fortner settled in for the next four innings before an unearned run by EIU in the fifth inning broke the deadlock.
The Gamecocks bounced back with a three-run fifth inning, highlighted by a bases loaded sacrifice fly by sophomore
Isaac Alexander. Alexander lifted a fly ball to right field for the RBI and sophomore
Cole Frederick and Kirklin were alert on the base paths as Frederick scored from second and Kirlin moved to third base. Kirklin was plated on a wild pitch. JSU had the bases loaded in the eighth, but EIU escaped the frame with a double play.
Kirklin was one of four Gamecocks to have two hits on the day. Webb,
Chase Robinson and Frederick joined him with multi-hits.
The Ohio Valley Conference series wraps up on Sunday with a 1 p.m. start time at Rudy Abbott Field at
Jim Case Stadium. Tickets are available on JSUGamecockSports.com. All JSU students and fans 18 years old and younger are admitted free.
The Sunday tilt will be available on ESPN+ and aired on the Gamecock Sports Network.
