JACKSONVILLE – New Mexico State rallied past Jacksonville State, 9-5, on Saturday night to clinch a road series in Conference USA action on Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium.
The Aggies erased a pair of small deficits after the Gamecocks scored in the first inning and took a 4-3 lead into the fifth inning after answering back-to-back run-scoring frames for NM State with a three-run fourth inning. NM State responded with three runs in the fourth to take a lead that it would not relinquish after another solid outing by the bullpen.
For the second consecutive night, the Gamecocks had NM State's pitching on the ropes for big innings, but the Aggies thwarted the big inning one again. Jax State loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth inning, but could only come away with one run in the situation with the top of the lineup at the plate. NM State's Hayden Walker recorded one of his four strikeouts and ended the threat with a fly ball. Walker picked up his fourth win of the season with 5.2 innings of work in relief. He did not allow a Jax State hit after freshman
Sam Silas connected on a single in the sixth inning.
Junior
Brennen Norton, who had a pair of hits in the setback, drove in a pair of runs, while Silas pushed a pair of runs across the plate with a double in Jax State's three-run fourth inning. Junior
Logan Walters collected a pair of doubles on Saturday, while sophomore
Caleb Johnson, sophomore
Bear Madliak and junior
Drew Collins all turned in a hit.
NM State's offense added three more runs over the final two frames for insurance. Sophomore
Jackson Sleeper ran into trouble the third and fourth innings after a fast start with four strikeouts in the first three frames. Sleeper was saddled with the loss on Saturday.
The series wraps up on Sunday with first pitch set for 1 p.m. Sunday is 'Bark at the Park' as fans are encouraged to bring their dogs to The Jim on Sunday. All dogs must be on a leash at all times. Tickets are available at JaxStateSports.com. All Jax State students and fans 18 years old and younger are admitted free.
The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and carried on the Gamecock Sports Network.
