JACKSONVILLE – For the second consecutive game the Jacksonville State baseball team turned in a walk-off win as junior Alex Webb blasted a grand slam in the ninth to lift JSU past SIU Edwardsville, 6-2, on Friday on Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium.

On Wednesday night, sophomore Alex Strachan delivered the game-winning hit in Jax State's win over eight-ranked Georgia.  The walk off win was the sixth of the season and fifth by the home run ball.  The Gamecocks now have two walk-off wins decided by a grand slam this season as redshirt freshman Nash Adams collected a grand slam in extra innings to top Troy on March 13.  The win in the series opener pushed JSU to 28-21 overall and maintained its share of first place in the Ohio Valley Conference with Austin Peay.  After APSU claimed a 13-9 decision over Eastern Illinois on Friday, both clubs have identical league marks at 17-8.  The Cougars, fighting for one of the eight spots in the OVC Baseball Championship, fell to 17-29 on the season and 9-16 in OVC play. 

JSU and SIUE will continue the series on Saturday at 6 p.m.  Fans are advised to check JSUGamecockSports.com or JSU's social media platforms for any game time decisions due to the weather in the area over the weekend.

Webb's chance to break up a 2-2 deadlock came to fruition after the Gamecocks loaded the bases in their final at bat.  Junior Devin Brown capped off his three-hit day with a leadoff double to left centerfield.  Adams walled following the double before SIUE's Braydon Bone recorded a strikeout ahead of a single by Cole Frederick.  Before Webb came to the plate, the Cougars brought in another infield for defensive purposes, but it wasn't needed as the Columbia, Tennessee native designated hitter blasted a 1-0 pitch from Bone down the right field line.  Webb's sixth home run of the season traveled 386 feet and came off the bat at 102 miles per hour.  He finished the day with a pair of hits and five RBI.  Webb's single to right field tied the game at 2-2 in the third inning.  

It was a pitchers and defensive duel throughout the game as both starters settled in after both clubs posted a pair of runs by the end of the third run.  The Gamecocks handed starter Garrett Farmer a 1-0 lead to work with after a two-out RBI by senior Nic Gaddis in the first inning.  SIUE's two runs came on a two-out, two-run single by catcher Brock Weimer.  Farmer would post three blank innings after the two-run third inning.  SIUE's Collin Baumgartner only allowed a pair of runs on eight hits.

Farmer went six innings, scattering seven hits and recording seven strikeouts in a no decision.  It was the fifth appearance for the Huntsville, Alabama native that he did not issue a free pass.  Junior Jackson Tavel pitched 2.1 innings before senior Austin Brewster recorded the final two outs in the SIUE half of the ninth.  Brewster picked up the win and moved to 2-2 on the season.  Bone suffered the los and dropped to 0-2.

Frederick joined Brown in the three-hit category with a triple and a pair of singles in three of his last four plate appearances.

Prior to Saturday's contest, JSU will honor its 2019 senior class of Brewster, Gaddis and Cody Willingham.