JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville State's T.J. Reeves delivered a three-run home run in the first inning and the Gamecocks' pitching tandem of junior Isaiah Magwood and senior Dylan Hathcock allowed just five Central Arkansas hits as JSU evened the series with a 3-1 win on Saturday evening at Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium.

JSU (22-27, 15-11 ASUN) bounced back from a tough 2-1 setback in 10 innings to UCA (23-25, 17-9 ASUN) on Friday to force a key series-deciding game on Sunday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. Tickets are available online at JSYGamecockSports.com. All JSU students and fans 18 years old and younger are admitted free.

After sophomore Mason Maners and senior Cole Frederick started the bottom of the first with back-to-back hits, Reeves blasted a three-run home run just inside the foul pole down the left field line. After the fast start, it looked like it was going to be offensive day for the Gamecocks, but they relied on another stellar pitching performance by Magwood and solid defense in the behind the pitchers. After turning in a career-high 7.1 innings last Saturday at Eastern Kentucky and suffering a tough loss, the Hazel Green, Alabama native nearly mirrored his start a week ago with seven complete innings, scattering four hits and collecting six strikeouts. The lone UCA run issued came in the fourth inning. Magwood picked up his sixth win of the season and improved to 5-2 against ASUN foes. Hathcock pitched a clean eighth inning and retired the Bears in the ninth after a leadoff double to secure his first save of the season.

The Bears used five pitchers in the loss as Jesse Barker suffered the loss after tossing the first four innings. After Barker served up Reeves home run ball, he finished with four strikeouts and allowed two more hits over the next three innings. The Gamecocks were limited to three hits off the UCA bullpen arms.

Frederick continued his hot bat at the plate with a 3-for-4 night at the plate after being honored prior to the game in Senior Day ceremonies. Frederick pushed his hitting streak to 12 games and has now reached base in 20 consecutive games. It was his sixth three-hit game of the season and team-best 18th multi-hit game of the season. He moved into a tie for third place on the program's all-time career hits list after four hits through the first two games of the series. Frederick now has 272 career hits as a Gamecock, match former JSU standout Sam Eberle (2009-12), who finished with 272 career hits.

Maners has been key in the leadoff spot over the last third of the season. After his leadoff single in the first plate appearance, he added a bunt single later in the contest. The Vestavia Hills product has now reached base in 24-of-the-last-27 games and has reached base in 24 consecutive ASUN games. He leads the squad against ASUN competition with 12 multiple hit outings.

Maners and Frederick also helped the pitching tamden with outstanding plays defensively. Maners ended a UCA threat with a diving catch against the sun covered Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium, while Frederick made a sliding catch in foul territory to keep the Bears off the bases.

Senior Isaac Alexander another two-hit night with a pair of singles after recording two hits in the weekend opener.