AUBURN, Ala. – Jacksonville State wrapped up its sixth road game in the last seven games with a 13-3 loss at No. 21 Auburn on Tuesday night at Plainsman Park.

The Gamecocks dropped to 9-15 on the season and will be happy to be back on their turf for the next eight games, beginning Thursday evening in the first-ever Conference USA contest on Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium as Western Kentucky comes to Jacksonville for the Easter weekend series. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. Tickets are available online at JaxStateSports.com. Jax State students and all fans 18 years old and younger are admitted free.

It was a quick start offensively for the Gamecocks with a pair of runs in the first inning before a 40-minute rain delay. The two runs came from sophomore Caleb Johnson's seventh home run of the season. His home run was just the start for a x-hit night for the shortstop from Phenix City, Alabama. He highlighted Jax State's run-scoring third inning. Johnson delivered a one-out double to the gap and scored on junior Brennen Norton's double to left field. Johnson took care of extending his on-base streak in a hurry with the home run. He has now reached base in all 24 games this season and has reached base in 29 consecutive games dating back to the last five games of his freshman season.

After collecting five hits in the CUSA opening weekend at Louisiana Tech, including a two-home run game in the series opener on Saturday, Norton added three more hits against the Tigers for his first three-hit game of the season and his eighth multi-hit outing of the season. Along with his RBI double in the third, he was one of three Gamecocks to have hits in the first inning against AU starter Christian Herberholtz, he added another base hit in the sixth inning.

Jax State carried a 3-1 led into the fourth inning before the AU offense put together a seven-run fourth inning and added five more runs in the fifth to break the game open. The Tigers produced four home runs on the night, including a grand slam to key the five-run fifth.

Sophomore Bear Madliak extended his on-base streak to 15 consecutive games after reaching on a single in the sixth. Junior Drew Collins started the game with a single.

The WKU series will be streamed on ESPN+ with Eli Gold and Jim Case calling the action. All three games will also be carried on the Gamecock Sports Network with Mike Parris behind the microphone.