JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville State's pitching was the story of game one and the offense erupted for 11 runs in the finale as the Gamecocks swept a doubleheader from South Alabama to claim the final non-conference weekend of the season on Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium.

Sophomore Tanner Jones compiled a career-high seven scoreless innings and Jax State used a four-run seventh to blank the Jaguars 4-0 in the first game on Saturday. The Gamecocks' bats stayed hot early in the nightcap with seven runs in the first two innings to highlight an 11-9 win over USA. The Gamecocks have now claimed series over their nemesis from Mobile in two of the last three seasons. JSU moved to 6-10 on the season, while the Jaguars fell to 8-8 overall.

Jones turned in one of his performances in a Gamecock uniform on Saturday as he established a new career high in strikeouts with nine in the outing. The Thorsby, Alabama native faced 26 Jaguars in the start and scattered five USA hits. Jones kept posting zeros on the scoreboard until Jax State's offense broke the scoreless deadlock in the seventh inning.

The Gamecocks pushed four runs across the plate on one big hit by freshman Bear Madliak. After a pair of one-out walks by Caleb Johnson and Michael Dallas, Madliak delivered a double down the right field line. JSU took advantage of the ineffectiveness by USA pitchers by scoring a run on a wild pitch, a hit by pitch and two-out walk with the bases loaded.

Madliak, who was moved to the leadoff spot in the batting order in all three games this weekend, finished the series going 7-of-15 and three RBI. He reached base eighth times in three games and scored three runs. The Carrollton, Georgia native was the only Gamecock to have multiple hits in game one.

After wrapping up its first shutout since May 21, 2021 against Eastern Illinois, Jax State maintained the momentum early in the second game. The Gamecocks started fast by going through the order in the first plate appearance. Senior T.J. Reeves, who finished the second game with his second three-hit game of the season and 10th multiple hit game on the year, drove in two of the four runs in the frame. Junior Javon Hernandez and sophomore Brennen Norton added the other two RBI.

The tandem of Maners and Reeves powered Jax State's three-run second inning with back-to-back home runs. Maners drilled his second home run of the season over the right field fence for a two-run blast and on the next pitch Reeves cranked his fifth home run of the season. It's the first time JSU has posted back-to-back home runs since the last weekend of the regular season in 2022 at Bellarmine.

The Gamecocks continued to build its lead with an RBI from Madliak in the fifth inning and another three-run frame in the sixth. Senior Carson Crowe and Hernandez had run-scoring doubles in the inning. Jax State was cruising through the sixth inning until the Jaguars made things interesting with eight runs over the final three innings.

Freshman Eli Zielinski moved to 3-0 on the season after five solid innings on the mound. The Daphne, Alabama lefty posted four strikeouts and allowed a run on three hits. Junior Reid Fagerstrom was able to collect his fifth save of the season after getting the Gamecocks out of the final inning. His fifth save leads the ASUN and among the leaders in NCAA Division I Baseball.

By reaching base in both contests on Saturday, Maners has now reached base in 28 consecutive games dating back to the last 12 games of the 2022 season and the first 16 of this season. The Vestavia Hills, Alabama outfielder reached base four times combined on the day, including a two-hit series finale. He and Reeves have reached base in 16 straight games to start the season.

The Gamecocks will have two days to prep for the midweek contest with defending national champion, Ole Miss on Tuesday evening. The nationally-ranked Rebels will visit Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium on Tuesday, March 14. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. Tickets are available online at JSUGamecockSports.com. All Jax State students and fans 18 years old and younger are admitted free. Jax State will put a wrap on the 12-game homestand next weekend hosting ASUN newcomer Queens (N.C.) to town for the first weekend of conference action. The series will start on Friday, March 17.