CONWAY, Ark. – Senior
Alex Strachan's one-out, two-run home run in the ninth handed Jacksonville State a 4-3 Friday night win over Central Arkansas at Bear Stadium.
The Gamecocks (13-14, 7-3) picked up their fourth ASUN West Division road win with their final at bat heroics. It all started with a one-out bloop single to left field for senior
Alex Carignan, followed by Strachan's two-run blast over the right centerfield wall. The game-winning home run was his fifth on the season. It was JSU's ninth come-from-behind win of the season and first in its last plate appearance this year.
JSU played from behind throughout the night until Strachan's home run and freshman
AJ Causey closing out the game in the ninth with three straight outs. It was Causey's fifth save of the season. Reigning ASUN Pitcher of the Week, Tyler Cleveland, who tossed his third straight complete game was handed the loss. Jax State sophomore
Reid Fagerstrom picked up the win in relief after three innings of work put of the bullpen.
The two clubs traded runs in the bottom of the third and top of the fourth. UCA manufactured all three runs of the night after a lead off single in the third, a double to start the fifth and a leadoff walk scored in the seventh.
JSU sophomore
Mason Maners, who joined Carignan with two hits off Cleveland, scored on junior
Carson Crowe's RBI single to right field in the fourth. Maners was involved in the Gamecocks' scoring in the eighth after trailing 3-1. Senior
Tanner Snow, who was seeing action for the first time since the Southern Mississippi series, worked a lead off walk, followed by a double from senior
Isaac Alexander. Snow scored on Maners sacrifice fly to left field. JSU out-hit the Bears, 8-5, also had a hit from senior
Cole Frederick.
Gamecock starter
Isaiah Magwood turned in five innings in a no decision and allowed just a pair of UCA hits.
JSU will be looking to clinch its third ASUN West series of the season on Saturday with the middle game of the weekend set scheduled for 4 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and carried on the Gamecock Sports Network.
