JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville State dropped it second one-ru game of the season-opening weekend on Sunday as Tennessee Tech claimed a 5-4 decision on Sunday to wrap up JSU's round robin event on Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium.

One of the luxuries of having a facility like JSU's home is that the program is able to play many games due to the field turf after many teams across the country were not able to get on the field due to the winter weather that swept through the nation last week.  The Gamecocks were scheduled to open the 2021 season with a series at Baylor, but the weather played havoc in the state of Texas.  Jax State (1-2) was able to find three other teams for the weekend in Jacksonville for a three-day, six-game event.  JSU opened with a one-run loss to Southern Illinois on Friday and bounced backed to down Alabama State on Saturday.

The Golden Eagles (2-1) rallied from a 3-2 deficit with three runs over the final two innings.  Tech scored the winning run on a sacrifice fly by Ed Johnson, scoring Theo Bryant after he reached on a one-out walk by JSU's Trey Fortner and back-to-back singles loaded the bases. The Gamecocks were able to get the tying run on base in their last plate appearance after pinch hitter Javier Ramirez was hit by a pitch with one out.

Tech took a late 4-3 lead in the eighth with an RBI double from Brett Roberts and he eventually scored on a balk call.

Jax State responded by loading the bases after senior Alex Webb was plunked and senior Jaylyn Williams reached via a walk.  Freshman Derrick Jackson, Jr. laid down a bunt single to give JSU a run-scoring opportunity.  Junior Isaac Alexander lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to square the game at 4-all.  Tech's Jonny Hickman was able to hold a potential big inning for JSU to just the one run.  Hickman would finidh the final two innings to secure the win.

JSU starter Colin Casey turned in four complete innings in his first start since the Kennesaw State game a season ago, which happened to be JSU's last game of the 2020 season. The Jacksonville, Alabama native posted a career-high five strikeouts and was touched for one earned run. The bright spot out of the bullpen was freshman Jake peppers, tossed 2.1 innings and fanned four in his collegiate debut.

JSU handed Peppers a one-run lead after engineering a three-run fifth inning.  Senior Tre Kirklin highlighted the inning with an RBI double, followed by a Tech miscue to allow another run to score.  Junior Cole Frederick added an RBI fielder's choice for the third run.  Kirklin and Williams had multi-hit games as each had a single and a double on the day.

The Gamecocks continue their homestand on Tuesday, February 23, hosting Alabama in a 4 p.m. contest on Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium. Fans can purchase tickets online at JSUGamecockSports.com. 

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