MURRAY, Ky. – Jacksonville State opened the Ohio Valley Conference schedule with a tough loss in the opening game of the weekend series with Murray State as the Racers walked away with a 3-2 win on Friday afternoon at Johnny Reagan Field.

The Gamecocks (7-9, 0-1 OVC) could not nail down a 2-1 contest as five walks in the ninth by MSU (9-8, 3-1 OVC) secured the win. The two clubs will meet on Saturday in a doubleheader. Game one of the twinbill will get started at 12 p.m. Both games will be streamed on ESPN+ and aired on the Gamecock Sports Network.

The Racer win spoiled another stellar pitching performance by junior Christian Edwards. Last Friday night, Edwards turned in 12 strikeouts in six innings of work and limited South Alabama to one hit. He extended his career-high for innings with seven innings and nine strikeouts on the day. He held one of the top offenses in the league hitless in his time on the mound. The Racers finished with one hit in the contest. Senior Colley Woods was greeted by a leadoff triple from MSU's Brennan McCullough to start the eighth. The Racers pushed the run across the plate on a groundout RBI. Redshirt junior Trey Fortner was saddled with the loss.

Jax State handed Edwards a two-run cushion in the second with back-to-back two-out RBI singles from junior Cole Frederick and redshirt junior Zeth Malcom. The Gamecocks turned in seven hits in the contest but could not extend the lead after the second inning. JSU stranded 10 base runners on the base paths in the setback.

Reigning OVC Player of the Week Alex Webb recorded hit along with junior Alex Strachan, redshirt sophomore Nash Adams, senior Tre Kirklin and junior Javier Ramirez.

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