JACKSONVILLE - After opening the season with a series win over Memphis to open the 2024 season and the Steve Bieser era, Jacksonville State will travel to Mobile, Alabama for its first weekend on the road against South Alabama.

The in-state battle at Eddie Stanky Field will get started on Friday with first pitch set for 6:30 p.m. The series continues on Saturday at 2 p.m. and will wrap up on Sunday with a 1 p.m. All three games will be streamed on ESPN+.

The Gamecocks (2-2) will be looking to bounce-back from a midweek setback at Samford, while the Jaguars have started the season 5-0 after a win over Southeastern Louisiana on Wednesday.

For the fourth consecutive season, Jax State and USA will meet in a three-game weekend series. The two in-state clubs started home-and-home weekend series between the two programs in 2021. The Gamecocks have won 2-of-the-3 previous weekend series, including last season's series win. Last season on Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium, Jax State bounced-back from a Friday loss to win the nest two games of the weekend. Jax State won the series played in Mobile during the 2021 season with a win on Friday and Saturday. USA swept all three games in Jacksonville in 2022. Jax State and USA have met 39 previous times with the Jaguars holding a 20-19 edge in the series.

A few new faces within the program have started off the season with impressive numbers, led by freshman Hudson Walburn leads the team in average through the first four games of the season after sparking Jax State's offense in last Sunday's come-from-behind win over Memphis. In five at-bats, the Vestavia Hills, Alabama centerfielder has three hits, including a home run. Freshman Gabe Young has solidified his spot in right field with solid numbers to start his collegiate career. Young, from Mountain Brook, Alabama, shares the team lead in hits with six, including three extra base hits. Young enters the weekend with a team-high four walks.

Junior Brennen Norton has started strong offensively with a pair of home runs in the first four games of the season. Norton blasted a solo home run in the 13th inning on Opening Day to hand first-year head coach Steve Bieser his first win at Jax State. The Cullman, Alabama third baseman connected on his second home run of the season in his first plate appearance on Wednesday at Samford.

The Jax State pitching rotation has been tweaked from the opening weekend series. The Gamecocks will send senior Will Baker to the mound in Friday's opener. The Mount Olive, Alabama lefty will be making his first career start against the Jaguars. He notched a win in Sunday's 10-inning win over Memphis after tossing an inning. He pitched four innings last Friday in the season opener. Sophomore Jackson Sleeper, who started game three of the weekend against Memphis will start Saturday's contest. Sunday's starter is to be determined by Bierser and his staff.

Folling the weekend in Mobile, the Gamecocks will return home next week to host future Conference USA rival Kennesaw State on Tuesday for the first home midweek action of the season. Jax State will host Mid American Conference power Kent State next weekend on Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium.