TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Junior pitcher
Christian Edwards turned in a career night with 12 strikeouts in six innings and the Jacksonville State offense pounded out 12 hits in an 11-2 win over South Alabama on Friday night at Stanky Field in Mobile, Alabama.
The win was the first by JSU (6-7) over USA (6-7) since 2015 and the most runs scored against the Sun Belt program in the 26 games-played between the two in-state programs. The win also inched head coach
Jim Case to another milestone as it was his 599th career win – all of which have come at Jax State.
Edwards was sensational in his fourth start of the year with his strikeout total and in complete command of the contest for six innings. His previous career high in strikeouts was nine against Eastern Kentucky in the 2018 Ohio Valley Conference tournament as a freshman. The last time a Gamecock hurler had 12 or more strikeouts was
Garrett Farmer, who fanned 12 against Austin Peay during the 2019 championship run. The Hartselle, Alabama righthander, along with senior
Corley Woods in relief, held the Jaguars to one hit on the night. USA plated its two runs on Ethan Wilson's two-out double down the left field line in the third inning.
USA's two runs came after Jax State sent nine hitters to the plate and five touched the plate in the visitors half of the third. Redshirt junior
Zeth Malcom, making his second career start as the designated hitter in Friday's batting order, started it with an RBI sacrifice fly. Senior
Alex Webb, who finished with four RBI on the night, recorded his first one with a single. Senior
Jaylyn Williams followed with a double ahead of
Alex Strachan's home run to left field. It was Strachan's second of the season and 17th of his career.
The Gamecocks chased USA starter Jeremey Lee, who entered the contest without giving up an earned run in three outings after three innings. The Jaguars used six pitchers in the loss.
JSU nursed the three-run lead until breaking the game open with a four-run seventh inning. The frame was highlighted by Redshirt sophomore
Nash Adams' second double of the evening along with a fielder's choice RBU by
Isaac Alexander and a sacrifice fly by Strachan. Strachan turned in thre RBI. Jax State added two more runs in the eighth on Webb's two-run double to centerfield.
Half of JSU's hits were for extra bases and it scored seven of the 11 runs with two outs in the inning.
The two teams will take to the field on Saturday afternoon for the middle game of the weekend series. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. and will be available on ESPN+ and carried on the Gamecock Sports Network.
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