JACKSONVILLE – FIU salvaged the final game of the Conference USA series with a three-run 11th inning down Jacksonville State, 13-10, on Sunday afternoon at Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium.
It was the second 11-inning affair of the weekend between the Gamecocks and Panthers after Saturday's 4-3 win by Jax State in extra frames. Jax State claimed its first CUSA series after an 18-7 win on Friday night along with Saturday's one-run victory. After the weekend series, the Gamecocks moved to 11-20 overall and 2-7 in league play, while the Panthers exit Jacksonville at 16-15 in the season and 7-5 in league games.
The Panthers erased a five-fun deficit and played from behind for most of the contest after a fast start by the Gamecocks. FIU trailed 7-2 after two frames and plated three runs to claw back into the game at 7-5. Jax State's final three runs came off the seventh home run of the weekend as
Hudson Walburn, who walked off the Panthers on Saturday, belted a three-run blast down the left field line to give the Gamecocks breathing room with two innings to maintain a lead.
Walburn's third home run of the season was the second of the day for Jax State. Senior
Derrick Jackson, Jr. pounced on a Panther pitch for a grand slam in the first inning. It was the Gamecocks' third grand slam of the season with Jackson having two of the three. The Gamecocks expanded the lead in the second with three runs, highlighted by Jackson's fifth RBI of the day on a base hit. Jackson finished with five RBI on the day and 10 RBI against FIU on the weekend. Sophomore
Caleb Johnson had an RBI single along with an RBI sacrifice fly by junior
Logan Walters.
FIU's bullpen kept the game within reach as it kept the Gamecocks from expanding the lead until Walburn's home run in the seventh. The Panthers took advantage of four Gamecock defensive miscues four late walks by Jax State's bullpen. Junior
Jack Hoppenjans was saddled with the loss after 2.2 innings of work. FIU's Kevin Martin moved to 2.0 after tossing the final four innings and did not five up a hit to the Gamecocks.
Sophomore
Bear Madliak collected three hits on the day to lead the offensive attack.
The Gamecocks will conclude their eight-game homestand on Tuesday against another set of Panthers. Georgia State and Jax State will play for the first time since 2008 with a 6 p.m. contest on Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium. Tickets are available online at JaxStateSports.com. Jax State students and fans 18 years old and younger are admitted free. Tuesday's contest will be streamed on ESPN+ and carried on the Gamecock Sports Network.
Following the GSU game, the Gamecocks return to CUSA action on the road next weekend at Liberty.
