JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville State dropped an 8-4 decision to 19th-ranked Auburn on Tuesday night in front of a packed Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium.

The Gamecocks and Tigers split their home-and-home set during the 2022 season with both visiting teams claiming a win. Jax State handed the Tigers their lone midweek loss, 5-2, on March 29. The in-state battle was contested in front of 1,673, the third largest crowd at Rudy Abbot Field at Jim Case Stadium since the rebuild in 2019. In the two JSU-AU games combined, the two programs played in front of over 5,900 fans.

A five-run fifth was the pivotal inning in the game with AU breaking a deadlock 1-1 with five runs on just one hit in the inning. The Tigers took advantage of a pair of walks and three AU hitters were hit by the pitch. The lone line hit in the frame was an RBI single by Bobby Pierce.

The Tigers struck first with a two-out RBI single in the fourth by Brody Moore. Moore pushed another run across the plate in the seventh.

Jax State answered AU's run in the fourth with a solo blast by junior Carson Crowe that cleared the centerfield wall. JSU had ample opportunities early in the game, including the first inning in which a ground rule double by senior Cole Frederick kept a run off the scoreboard and AU's centerfielder climbed the fence to take a two-run home run off the scoreboard from junior T.J. Reeves.
After AU built a 6- lead in the fifth inning, JSU responded again with an RBI single from senior Alex Strachan and a sacrifice fly by Isaac Alexander.

Crowe belted his second home run of the contest to start the seventh inning. It is the second time this season that Crowe has turned in multiple home runs in a game. He registered a pair of home runs on April 9 at Central Arkansas. In two games with the Tigers, the Tuscaloosa, Alabama native had four hits and four RBI.

The top three in JSU's lineup accounted for six of Jax State's 10 hits in the loss as sophomore Mason Maners, Frederick and Reeves all had two hits. Maners, who has solidified his spot in the leadoff position, has now reached base 17 consecutive games, which is the longest on the club this season. He also extended his hitting streak to a team-best nine games. It was also Maners' ninth multi-hit contest.

Reeves extended his on-base streak to 11 games with his pair of hits, while Strachan posted his 13th consecutive game reaching base.

The Gamecocks return to action on Wednesday, hosting Mercer at 6 p.m. on Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium. Wednesday's battle with Mercer will be Military Appreciation Night in conjunction with JSU's ROTC program. The JSU ROTC will present the colors in pregame activities. Free admission to any individuals that show a valid military ID or are in uniform at the stadium box office. JSU patriotic shirts will be tossed out in the grandstand throughout the game. Tickets for the AFC X: Army Guns, a live mixed martial arts event on April 30, in Pete Mathews Coliseum will be sold at the Auburn and Mercer games.

The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and carried on the Gamecock Sports Network. JSU will be looking to gaim a split with the Bears after falling 7-2 in Macon, Georgia.