JACKSONVILLE – Middle Tennessee rallied from an early six-run deficit to claim a 12-9 win over Jacksonville State in the opening game of a pivotal Conference USA series on Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium on Friday.
The win gave the Blue Raiders a two-game lead over the Gamecocks as both are fighting for one of the eight spots in the 2024 Conference USA Tournament later in May. Jax State will be looking even the series on Saturday with a 6 p.m. first pitch.
Both offenses produced early and nine runs combined in the first two innings. MTSU took the early 2-0 lead in the first inning off of Jax State starter,
Jackson Sleeper. After the Gamecocks sliced the deficit in half with a run in the home half, the offense pounded out five hits and took advantage of a Blue Raider miscue that opened the door for the six-run inning. Jax State's top-four hitters produced RBI with junior
Drew Collins and junior
Brennen Norton turning in run-scoring singles, followed by back-to-back RBI double from sophomore
Caleb Johnson and sophomore
Bear Madliak.
Senior Derric Jackson, Jr. started the third inning with a solo home run to make it an 8-2 lead for the Gamecocks. The Blue Raiders' offense came to life with eight runs over the middle three innings and took a lead it would nurse the rest of the way with three runs in the sixth inning.
MTSU added a pair of insurance runs on a two-run home run in the eight inning. Jax State would attempt a rally of its own in the ninth after getting the first two batters on base. MTSU's Ollie Akens bounced-back to retire the next three Gamecocks for his second save of the season. James Sells tossed 4.2 innings of relief work for the win, while junior
Russell Derbyshire suffered the loss out of the bullpen.
Collins, Norton, Madliak, freshman
Sam Silas and junior
Logan Walters provided the offense with 10-of-the-12 Jax State hits. Norton and Madliak registered multi-RBI in the setback.
MTSU's Jackson Galloway turned in a game-high three hits and delivered four RBI.
Tickets for series at The Jim are available at JaxStateSports.com. Jax State students and fans 18 years old and younger are admitted free. The remaining games on the weekend will be streamed on ESPN+ and carried on the Gamecock Sports Network.
