HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The Jacksonville State baseball team wrapped up the 2024 season with a 6-2 loss to Sam Houston State on Saturday afternoon at a steamy Don Sanders Stadium.

The Gamecocks, eliminated from postseason action, finished the first season under Steve Bieser at 18-34 overall, while SHSU moved to 33-22 on the season and will be the No. 4 seed in the 2024 Conference USA Baseball Tournament in Ruston, Louisiana that start on Wednesday on the Louisiana Tech.

Jax State struggled offensively in Friday's twinbill with three runs in the 15 innings played, started off well with a run in the first inning. Sophomore Bear Madliak, who had a nice weekend at te plate, connected on the first of two doubles in the contest, drove in the first run of the day in the first inning. Madliak gave senior Will Baker a lead to work with in his final outing as a Gamecock. Jax State went to the bullpen with seniors Russell Derbyshire and Sam Maynard to wrap up their collegiate careers on the mound.

Baker went 6.0 innings and was touched for five of the six runs as SHSU took a 2-1 lead in the second and a lead that it would expand in the fourth inning with a three-run fourth inning. SHSU would expand the lead with an unearned run in the seventh inning.

The Gamecocks had chances late to get back in the contest, but the SHSU bullpen found a way to get out of the jams.
Madliak led the offense with a pair of doubles on the day, while Drew Collins had a pinch-hit home run in the fifth inning. Sophomore Brennen Norton and Logan Walters added hits.