JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville State picked up its first Conference USA win in a big way with an 18-7 thumping of FIU in the opening game of the weekend series on Friday evening at Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium.

The Gamecocks used a 13-run third inning to propel them to the win and senior Will Baker turned in a career high six innings and established a new career mark for strikeouts in an inning with six in the contest. The 13-run inning is the second double digit scoring inning this week after Jax State put together a 10-run fifth inning on Wednesday against Troy. The 13 runs in an inning matches the run production on March 19, 2014 against Eastern Illinois as the Gamecocks posted a 23-15 win over EIU.

While Baker held the Panthers to a run in the second inning, the Jax State bats heated up on a cool evening in Jacksonville. The Gamecocks pounded out 17 hits in six plate appearances with 11 of the hits for extra bases – five doubles, three triples and three home runs. The last time Jax State had a trio of triples was during the 2004 season against Samford.

Jax State broke a 1-1 deadlock by sending 17 batters to the plate with eight recording hits, while taking advantage of a pair of FIU miscues. Senior Derrick Jackson, Jr. highlighted the inning by recording five RBI in the inning on a pair of doubles and a home run in the three at bats in the third inning. He delivered a two-run double to centerfield in his first at bat and turned in a double to left field the second time through. He capped off his inning with a three-run home run to left field. The Gamecocks turned in back-to-back home runs for the first time this season after junior Logan Walters followed Jackson with a solo blast.

Even though Jackson had three hits and five RBI on the night, it was sophomore Caleb Johnson that collected his second four-hit game of the season. He started the third inning with his second single of the game and added an RBI double in his second trip to the dish. Johnson was a triple shy of hitting for the cycle after he turned in his ninth home run of the season in Jax State's four-run sixth inning. The shortstop was also stellar in the field with a leaping line drive snag and throwing the runner out at first base for a double play to FIU's second inning. Johnson has now reached base in every game this season and pushed his on-base streak to 34 games dating back to the last five games of the 2023 season.

Sophomore Bear Madliak turned in a three-hit night and two RBI in the contest. Madliak was a home run shy of completing the cycle. Junior Drew Collins registered a pair of hits in the win along with Walters' pair of hits. Freshman Sam Silas and junior Brennen Norton joined the list of Gamecocks with hits. Silas put down a pair of bunts that turned into errant throws by the Panthers.

The second game of the weekend series against FIU will get started at 6 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets are available at JaxStateSports.com. Jax State students and fans 18 years old and younger are admitted free.

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