JACKSONVILLE – The bottom half of the Jacksonville State lineup carried the club to an 8-4 win over Kennesaw State on Tuesday night on Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium.

JSU's 7-9 hitters produced half of the eight hits on the night and drove in five runs. The Freshman Derrick Jackson, Jr. finished with two hits and keyed the Gamecocks' three-run fifth that extended a one-run lead with a two-RBI double to the gap in right centerfield.

The win by the Gamecocks gamed a split with their future conference foe as both programs will be members of the ASUN in 2022. JSU avenged a 12-10 setback to KSU on March 24 at Stillwell Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia. Jax State's win also snapped KSU's seven-game winning streak since returning to competition from COVID-19 protocols.

Freshman Mason Maners, who was in the No. 9 spot in the order, gave the Gamecocks the lead in the fourth inning with a single right back up the middle, plating a pair of runs. Junior Isaac Alexander returned to the lineup and had an RBI single in the fifth.

The Gamecocks (16-15) overcame a 1-0 deficit with an early run by the Owls (19-9) off of starter Isaiah Magwood. Magwood pitched the first three innings, striking out four in the outing and touched for two KSU hits. Freshman Reid Fagerstrom tossed a clean fourth inning after JSU took the lead to secure his first career win on the mound at JSU. The Gamecocks used six pitchers out of the bullpen in the Tuesday night affair.

Senior Tre Kirklin, playing against his hometown school, posted his sixth multi-hit game of the season with two hits. Junior Alex Strachan connected on his second triple of the season, both coming off KSU pitching. His triple started JSU's three-run fifth inning.

The Gamecocks will travel to Richmond, Kentucky for an Ohio Valley Conference weekend series against the Colonels of Eastern Kentucky. The three-game series begins on Friday, April 16 at 5 p.m. CST. JSU and EKU will wrap up the weekend with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 12 p.m. All three games will be available on ESPN+ and will be carried on the Gamecock Sports Network.