JACKSONVILLE – Jaylyn Williams delivered the game-winning single to lift Jacksonville State past Valparaiso, 5-4, in walk-off fashion on Friday afternoon in the opening game of a weekend series on Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium.

Williams, a graduate transfer from Jackson State, drilled a 3-2 pitch to centerfield for the game winner.  The Greenville, Mississippi native drove in junior Javier Ramirez, who led off the final frame with a walk.  JSU moved him to second base on a sacrifice bunt by junior Cole Frederick.  Valpo intentionally walked senior Tre Kirklin.  With two outs, Ramirez and Kirklin stole second and third before Williams base hit. It was Williams' second RBI on the day as he recorded a sacrifice fly to put JSU;s first run on the board in the first and tie the game 1-1 after Valpo struck for a run in the first inning.

Walk off wins have become familiar for JSU as it turned in 10 last at bat wins during the season.

Valpo rallied in the top of the inning after trailing 4-2 going into the last opportunity.  Valpo strung together three hits in the inning and pushed a pair of two-out runs across the dish to even the game.  Redshirt Redshirt sophomore Trey Fortner closed out the inning with a pop up on the infield with the bases loaded. Fortner picked up the win to move to 1-1 on the season.

The Gamecocks took their first lead of the contest in the third after back-to-back RBI by Kirklin and Alex Webb.  Kirklin registered an RBI triple, followed by Webb's ground out RBI. With his second career triple, Kirklin extended his hitting streak to 13 games dating back to the final eight games of the 2020 season. Webb joined Williams with two RBI as the senior extended JSU's one-run lead to a two-run contest with a sacrifice fly in the seventh.

Frederick, junior Isaac Alexander and Nash Adams all carded hits in the win.

Junior Christian Edwards made his second consecutive Friday start and was effective for 4.2 innings. The Hartselle, Alabama righthander scattered four hits, two runs and fanned four Valpo hitters.  Freshman Camden Lovrich was the first man out of the bullpen and pitched 2.1 innings before junior Jackson Tavel tossed a clean eighth inning. Senior Corley Woods ran into trouble in the ninth the two runs before Fortner closed out the inning.

The series continues on Saturday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader. Due to JSU hoops in action on Saturday, the twinbill will not be streamed on ESPN+ and aired on the Gamecock Sports Network.  Live stats for both nine inning games will be available on JSUGamecockSports.com.

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