JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State baseball team wrapped up a five-game in six days homestand on Wednesday with a 17-10 loss to Mercer on Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium.

The Gamecocks remained in the tight ASUN West Division standings last weekend with a series win over Lipscomb before falling to Auburn and the Bears during the midweek. JSU will now turn its focus back on the conference race with four weekends left, including three of the four remaining series away from Jacksonville. Jax State will be making its first trip to Florence, Alabama this weekend since it moved to the NCAA Division I level as it renews the rivalry with North Alabama. The series begins on Friday at Mike Lane Field on the UNA campus. The series can be heard on the Gamecock Sports Network. The Gamecocks swept the Lions in three closely-contest games in March at JSU.

It was an offensive showing for both clubs on Wednesday as they combined for 27 runs and 27 hits total in the contest. JSU took an early lead in the second inning before MU answered with a run in the third before Jax State reclaimed the advantage at 2-1 through the first three innings. As the chilly temps set in, it seemed the bats started to get hot as both teams would plate 21 runs over the next three innings. The Bears broke the game open with an eight-run fourth and a four spot in fifth.

Jax State mounted a comeback with eight runs in its half of the fifth inning to get back in the contest. The Gamecocks had an RBI single by senior Alex Strachan, followed by a two-run double from senior Isaac Alexander. Luke Coker delivered a two-run single ahead of a pinch hit two RBI double off the bat of freshman AJ Causey. Senior Cole Frederick finished the scoring plays in the frame with an RBI single. The eight runs posted by JSU is the largest run producing inning of the season.

Within striking distance at 13-10 after five innings, the Bears added a run in the sixth before posting three insurance runs in the ninth.

Alexander collected his first three-hit night of the season and was a triple away from hitting for the cycle. His night started with a solo home run in the second inning, a double in JSU's eight spot in the fifth and a single in the eighth. The top half of the Gamecock lineup produced five of the 14 hits with Frederick turning in two hits and junior T.J. Reeves adding two hits. Sophomore Mason Maners extended his hitting streak with an infield single late in the game and pushed his on-base streak to 18 consecutive games.

Redshirt freshman Reese Morrison made his first career start on Wednesday and was effective for three innings. The Heflin, Alabama native accumulated four strikeouts in 3.1 innings of work.