JACKSONVILLE – Senior Alex Webb belted a pair of two-run home runs in Jacksonville State's season opener, but the Missouri Tigers spoiled JSU's opening day with a 10-4 decision over the Gamecocks on Friday afternoon on Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium.

The two clubs continue the season-opening three-game set on Saturday at 3 p.m., followed by the series finale on Sunday at 12 p.m.  Both will be streamed on ESPN+.  Saturda's contest will not be available on the JSU Gamecock Sports Network, due to Jax State hoops action.

Webb, who entered the season with preseason exposure from around the Ohio Valley Conference and named as a Collegiate Baseball Preseason All-American, turned in two of JSU's hits and drove in all four runs with the pair of home runs.  The Columbia, Tennessee native touched Mizzou's Ian Bedell in the fourth and the sixth inning.  Both two-run blasts were just inside the right field foul pole.  His first home run squared up the contest at 2-2 after the Tigers struck for two early runs against Jax State starter, Dylan Hathcock. 

After Mizzou regained the lead with a solo home run by Seth Halvorson in the fifth and two more Tiger runs across the plate in the sixth, Webb put the Gamecocks back in the contest at 5-4 after six innings.  The Tigers would break open the contest with a three-run seventh and two more in the eighth.

Hathcock, who entered the JSU rotation late in 2019, went the first five innings and was touched for three runs and scattered five hits.  The Tallassee, Alabama left hander recorded five strikeouts.  Junior Christian Edwards, redshirt sophomore Trey Fortner tossed a combined three innings, while freshman Colton Lewis made his Gamecock debut in the ninth.  The Vestavia Hills, Alabama product turned in a pair of strikeouts.

Senior Tre Kirklin, junior Cole Frederick, junior Alex Strachan and senior Chase Robinson all registered a hit in the opener.  Senior Andrew Naismith reached base twice via a walk.
Bedell picked up the win after six quality innings and posting 11 strikeouts.

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