DELAND, Fla. – Sophomore Tanner Jones threw a gem and the offense lifted Jacksonville State to a 6-1 win over Stetson in the first action of the 2023 ASUN Baseball Championship on Wednesday afternoon at Melching Field at Conrad Park.

The Gamecocks needed Wednesday's win to remain in contention to claim the lone spot out of Pool B to advance to the semifinal round on Saturday after the Hatters claimed a win on Tuesday over Eastern Kentucky. Jax State will face the Colonels on Thursday at 6 p.m. CT and close out pool play on Friday versus Austin Peay at 6 p.m.

Jones nearly turned in Jax State's first complete game since May 25, 2018 as the righty went a career-high 8.2 innings in the contest. Former Gamecock Colton Pate put together a complete game shutout of Southeast Missouri in the 2018 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament held at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala. The Thorsby, Alabama native battled the Florida humidity and a later start time that scheduled with a weather delay in the first game of the day. He allowed six Stetson hits and the lone run in the seventh inning. Jones collected four strikeouts and let his defense play solid behind him. JSU turned in a pair of double plays to aid in Jones' performance. His only two flaws in 32 batters-faced were a walk and he plunked a Hatter. Junior Will Baker needed just five pitches to get the final out of the contest.

Jones was given a 3-0 cushion after the first inning after junior Derrick Jackson, Jr. went the opposite way for a three-run home run with two outs in the inning for his 10th of the season. Jax State expanded the lead in the second inning with an RBI single from Bear Madliak. Madliak joined senior Carson Crowe with multiple hits in the victory.

Crowe, a member of the last championship club of 2019, hit the postseason button with a three-hit day, including JSU's second two-out home run of the day. The Tuscaloosa, Alabama native delivered a two-run blast over the right centerfield wall in the third inning. Crowe added two more singles against Stetson pitching and extended the lead out to 6-0.
Stetson's Nick Durgin cooled off the Gamecocks' bats over the last six frames, but not without threats of adding more runs on the scoreboard. He was touched for five hits but did not give up a run. Stetson's Daniel Paret was handed the loss.

All-ASUN performers Javon Hernandez, Mason Maners and T.J. Reeves all had hits in the contest along with sophomore Brennen Norton.

Thursday's match up with EKU will be streamed on ESPN+ and carried on the Gamecock Sports Network.