JACKSONVILLE – UAB erased an early 5-0 deficit with a seven-run fifth inning to sweep the season series with Jacksonville State after claiming an 8-6 win on Tuesday at Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium.

The Gamecocks, who dropped a 6-3 decision to the Blazers (13-27) just under a month ago in Birmingham, dropped to 18-21 overall and will now turn their attention to an important ASUN series with another in-state foe, North Alabama. First pitch on Friday between the longtime rivals is set for 6 p.m. The series continues with a 6 p.m. Saturday evening showdown. The series wraps up on Sunday with Youth Day at Jax State baseball. The Atlanta Braves' mascot Blooper will be visiting the Gamecocks along with Truist Park organist Matthew Kaminski bringing organ tunes to the park. Sunday's finale is set for 1 p.m.

Jax State started hot offensively and senior Trey Fortner was solid on the mound in his third start of the season and second this season against the Blazers. Fortner was quickly handed a three-run lead after junior Derrick Jackson, Jr. belted a two-out, three-run home run over the left field fence. The Gamecocks padded the lead in the third inning with two more two-out RBI singles. Sophomore Brennen Norton singled in a run, followed by senior Brooks Bryan with an RBI single. Norton, Bryan and Diego Gines, who came off the bench on Tuesday, had a pair of hits.

Fortner tossed four complete innings with four strikeouts and allowed a pair of Blazer singles in the outing. UAB, who has struggled offensively with a team batting average of .220 entering the contest, took advantage of JSU's bullpen ineffectiveness in the fifth inning. Junior Camden Lovrich struggled with the stroke zone as he issued four walks and hit a Blazer in the fifth inning. The Blazers would take advantage of the situation with five runs allowed by Lovrich and added two more off senior Garrett Wade. UAB had a pair of hits in the 12 batters sent to the plate in the inning.

Jax State sliced the lead to a run in the sixth inning on Gines RBI single. UAB added an insurance run in the seventh with a two-out home run. UAB's Thomas Ballard picked up his first win of the season with two innings of work, while Leo Harris closed out the final three innings to preserve a Blazer win and pick up his first save of the season.

Tickets for all three games with the Lions are available online at JSUGamecockSports.com. Admission is free to all Jax State students and fans 18 years old and younger. The series will be streamed on ESPN+ and carried on the Gamecock Sports Network.