JACKSONVILLE – For the third time in four weeks of Ohio Valley Conference play, Jacksonville State will have a rubber game to decide the weekend series after splitting a Saturday doubleheader with Belmont on Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium.

The Gamecocks claimed the series opener, 8-4, while the Bruins bounced back with a 5-3 decision to force Sunday's rubber game at 1 p.m. After the twinbill, JSU stands at 14-15 overall and 6-5 in OVC contests. BU ended the day at 13-15 on the season and 7-7 in the league.

JSU's series-opening win was highlighted by a five-run fourth inning that erased a 2-1 Bruin lead. Junior Cole Frederick sparked the big inning with a two-run double just inside the third base bag to give Jax State a lead that would withstand Belmont threats the rest of the way. Junior Javier Ramirez tied the game with an RBI single ahead of Frederick. Frederick scored on a Bruin throwing error on a bunt from junior Zeth Malcom. Malcom added the fifth run on a wild pitch from Belmont's Joshua South.

The Bruins trimmed the JSU lead down to a pair of runs at 6-4 after a pair of solo home runs in the seventh. JSU added a pair insurance runs in the eighth on a passed ball and a Frederick ground out. Sophomore Carson Crowe led the batting order with three hits, including a two doubles. The Gamecocks, who lead the OVC in doubles and rank in the top-20 in NCAA Division I Baseball in that category, now have 60 on the season.

Kirklin and Ramirez joined Crowe with multiple hits as they both finished with two hits each.

Junior Christian Edwards was solid again on the mound with six string innings and scattering seven hits and striking out four Bruins. Edwards retired 10 Belmont hitters from the third inning to the seventh inning. The Hartselle, Alabama native notched his fourth win of the season. Redshirt sophomore Trey Fortner pitched an inning before handing the baseball over to senior Corley Woods in the eighth and ninth. Woods collected his fifth save of the season.

In game two, Belmont broke a 1-1 deadlock in fifth inning with three unearned runs. JSU junior Dylan Hathcock had tough luck in the frame and exited after 4.2 innings of work. Hathcock fanned five Bruins and tagged with one earned run.

Jax State cut it to a one-run game in the sixth with junior Alex Strachan's fifth home run of the season. After a Jaylyn Williams walk, Strachan belted a two-run blast 440 feet from the dish over the left field fence. Strachan was the only Gamecock in the nightcap to have multiple hits. Junior Nash Adams had the game-tying RBI in the second inning to make it 1-1.

Belmont's Andy Bean picked up the win after keeping JSU off balanced for 5.2 innings. He surrendered six hits and three runs to go along with five strikeouts in the outing.

After Strachan made it a one-run game after six innings, the Bruins added the fifth run in the seventh. Belmont's bullpen issued one hit to the Gamecocks over the 3.1 innings.

Sunday's contest will be available on ESPN+. Tickets can be purchased online at JSUGamecockSports.com. All JSU students and fans 18 years old and younger are admitted free.

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