JACKSONVILLE – Newcomer Javon Hernandez made quite the impression in his Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case debut with a four RBI contest, including a three-run blast in the seventh, but Southern Illinois fended off a late Jacksonville State rally to claim the series opener, 8-7, on Friday afternoon.

Hernandez, a native of Danbury, Connecticut, enjoyed his first taste of action on the turf in Jacksonville by driving in four of the seven runs the loss. The transfer from UConn-Avery Point, sparked the Gamecocks with his first home run in a JSU uniform with home run over the left field fence in the home half of the fifth inning. The big hit trimmed SIU's 4-0 lead to a run. In his seventh inning at bat, he delivered a bloop single to right to plate the tying run. Hernandez also played solid defense with a pair of putouts and four assists.

SIU (3-3) broke the deadlock in the eighth with a four-run eighth inning that was highlighted by Steven Loden's second home run of the day to start the inning against Jax State's Trey Fortner. The Salukis put together three more runs in the frame, including a two-out RBI from Bennett Eltoft. That run producing single proved to be a big factor in Jax State's comeback attempt in the ninth.

Jax State's last at bat started with an SIU miscue on the infield, followed by a pinch hit from Will Fincher in his first collegiate plate appearance. After a pair of strikeouts, junior Mason Maners tallied his second hit of the day with a single to load the bases for senior T.J. Reeves. Reeves drilled a bases-clearing double to bring the Gamecocks within a run. SIU's Matthew Steidl would need five pitches to thwart JSU's come-from-behind bid.

JSU starter AJ Causey tossed five complete innings and recorded five strikeouts. Junior Will Baker pitched a clean sixth inning ahead of Fortner. Fortner was handed his second loss of the season after 1.2 innings of work. SIU's Scott Harper notched the win in relief.

The two clubs continue the weekend series on Saturday at 3 p.m. Tickets are available online at JSUGamecockSports.com. The game will be carried on the Gamecock Sports Network. Due to women's basketball closing out their home schedule, the game will not be streamed on ESPN+.