MARTIN, Tenn. – Redshirt junior
Garrett Farmer turned in another pitching gem and the Jacksonville State offense added enough run support for a 4-2 win over UT Martin on drizzly afternoon at Skyhawk Field.
Farmer was masterful for 7.2 innings in the contest and limited UTM to one hit through seven innings. The Huntsville, Alabama righty recorded nine strikeouts on his way to the fifth win of the season for Farmer. He retired the UTM side in order in five of his seven innings of work. In the outing, Farmer was touched for four hits, including two by UTM's Ethan Whitley. Whitley's second hit was two-run home run in the eighth. Farmer (5-1) did not issue a free pass to the Skyhawks.
Jax State was gifted its first two runs of the contest after a missed-played deep fly ball off the bat of
Cole Frederick. Freshman
Carson Crowe and junior
Tre Kirklin scored on the play.
JSU pushed the lead to 3-0 in the sixth with a lead off home run by senior
Nic Gaddis. The Trenton, Georgia-product lifted one over the left filed fence. The solo blast moved him in to double digits in home runs on the season with 10. Kirklin continues to get back on track after a hand injury at Murray State sidelined him. The Kennesaw, Georgia outfielder connected on a home run for the second consecutive game as he started the seventh with his fifth of the season. Kirklin was the only Gamecock to have multiple hits in the contest. He now has 10 multi-hits games this season.
Senior
Austin Brewster notched his fourth save of the season, all in Ohio Valley Conference action after pitching the final 1.1 innings. UTM's Austen Bullington suffered the loss.
The Gamecocks (25-20, 15-7), by virtue of percentage points (.682) over Belmont and Austin Peay, who both have a league winning percentage of .680. Belmont claimed a Friday win over Southeast Missouri and will play a Sunday twinbill after Saturday's action in Nashville, Tennessee was rained out. APSU stepped out of OVC play this weekend against Jacksonville.
Game two of the series will get started at 3 p.m. The contest will be available on the Gamecock Sports Network.
