JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville State evened the series with Morehead State behind a superb pitching performance by freshman Isaiah Magwood and a four-hit night for junior Alex Webb as the Gamecocks posted an 11-3 win on Saturday night on Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium.

The Gamecocks bounced back after a tough night offensively against the Eagles in a 5-0 setback.  JSU improved to 22-20 on the season and 13-7 in the Ohio Valley Conference.  MSU dropped to 28-16 overall and 12-8 in conference play.  Jax State is percentage points behind Belmont and Austin Peay, who have identical 15-8 records in the league.  The rubber game of the series is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday.  Tickets are available at JSUGamecocksports.com.  All JSU students and fans 18 years old and younger are admitted free.  Sunday will be 'Kids Day' at Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium as kids will be able to run the bases following the conclusion of the contest.

Magwood shook off an unearned run in the first inning by the Eagles to toss a season-long six innings and a season-best nine strikeouts en route to notching his first win as a Gamecock.  After the run by MSU in the first plate appearance, the Hazel Green, Alabama righty retired 14 of the next 17 Eagles he faced.  After a one-out double by MSU's Stephen Hill, Magwood did not allow an Eagle hit until a leadoff single in the seventh.  He walked one and hit a batter during that stretch from the second inning to the sixth inning.

Webb collected his third four-hit contest and second against OVC competition, including a clutch two-out, two-run double down the right field line in Jax State's seven-run eighth inning that broke open a 4-3 contest entering the frame.  The seven runs by JSU was the biggest run-producing inning of the season.  Webb delivered his first of two doubles in the first, followed by singles in the third and fifth.  Freshman Carson Crowe had first three-hit night of his career, including an RBI single in fourth to extend the JSU lead to 4-1.  Sophomores Cole Frederick and Isaac Alexander had multi-hits in the win as the duo had RBI singles in the four-hit eighth.

Sophomore Alex Strachan and junior Tre Kirklin had RBI in the third inning and sixth inning.

Junior Jackson Tavel and senior Austin Brewster finished the final three innings with Tavel recording four strikeouts and Brewster capping off a 14-strikeout night for the pitching staff, matching the season-high in total strikeouts in a contest this season.  Brewster recorded his third save of the season.  JSU pitchers fanned 14 against Florida International.

Sunday's series-finale will be available on ESPN+ and aired on the Gamecock Sports Network.