MOBILE – A three-run home run by South Alabama in the seventh broke a 5-5 deadlock to hand the Jaguars the series opener on Friday over Jacksonville State, 8-6, at Stanky Field.

USA's Lucas Ismalli delivered the lead with the two-out blast in the seventh and the Jags fended off a late rally by the Gamecocks in the eighth inning. The Jags moved to 6-0 on the season, while the Gamecocks dropped to 2-3 overall and will look to even the series on Saturday afternoon in the middle game of the weekend set between the two in-state programs.

Every time Jax State put runs on the scoreboard, USA countered to match the score. The Gamecocks pushed the first run of the game in the second inning on Drew Collins' sacrifice fly. The frame started with a single from senior Derrick Jackson, Jr. and a one-out double by redshirt freshman Kensky Thomas put runners in scoring position for Collins.

Senior Will Baker, who made his first career start in a Gamecock uniform on Friday, was solid for 3.2 innings, allowing a pair of hits and a run. The Mount Olive, Alabama lefty recorded four strikeouts in the start. The lone run he allowed came in the third inning.

Jax State regained the lead in the fifth inning on a two-run single from junior Brennen Norton. Norton pushed his RBI total on the season to five on the season with his two in the inning. After USA limited Jax State to the two runs, the Jags matched that in the home half with a pair of runs.

Sophomore Caleb Johnson belted a two-out, two-run home run over the right field wall to give Jax State the lead again – a lead that was short-lived as USA responded with a pair of runs. Johnson added his third RBI of the game with a productive ground ball out in the eighth and finished the game with multiple hits.

Senior Kyle Chastine was saddled with the loss, while Gant Starling claimed the win. USA's Grant Wood posted his second save of the season.  

Saturday's action at Stanky Field will get underway at 2 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.