FORT MEYERS, Fla. – No. 24 Florida Gulf Coast proved why it is one of the prolific offenses in NCAA Division I Baseball with 18 hits in an 18-8 Friday night win over Jacksonville State at Swanson Stadium on the FGCU campus.

The Eagles (28-10, 12-4 ASUN) scored in every inning and ended the game in the eight with the 18th run of the night to post a run-rule win. FGCU took over sole possession of first place in the ASUN with Lipsomb falling to Bellarmine earlier on Friday. The Gamecocks dropped to 17-19 overall and 10-6 in conference play. Jax State will have an opportunity to even the series on Saturday with the middle game of the weekend series at 1 p.m. CST. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and carried on the Gamecock Sports Network.

Jax State's offense is among the conference leaders as well and it put together a productive night with eight runs on 14 hits, highlighted by junior Derrick Jackson, Jr.'s three-hit night and junior Mason Maners driving in three runs in the setback. Jackson and Maners were two of four Gamecocks to have multiple hits as senior Carson Crowe returned to action after being out of the lineup for the last three games. Sophomore Brennen Norton finished with a pair of hits, including an RBI single in Jax State's three-run first inning.

The Gamecocks started fast against FGCU pitching with three runs in the first after stringing together five hits off of FGCU's Nick Love. After the Eagles hit solo home runs in the first and second inning, Jackson, Jr. went the other way for a solo home run in the third inning. The Huntsville, Alabama native added a leadoff double in the fifth inning.

After FGCU expanded the lead with a six-run third, added three more in the fourth and took a commanding lead with two more runs in the fifth, Maners helped the Gamecocks chip away at the big deficit with a three-run blast over the Swanson Stadium scoreboard. Maners' home run gave him the team lead with eight on the season.

JSU's pitching staff struggled from the start with AJ Causey, who returned to his Friday night role, had his shortest stint of the season with 2.1 innings. The Gamecocks used four pitchers out of the bullpen. FGCU took advantage of six walks and six hit by pitches at the plate.

Jax State will send sophomore Tanner Jones to the mound on Saturday, while FGCU will counter with Justin Henschel.