DALLAS, Texas – Senior Derrick Jackson's home run in the ninth lifted Jacksonville State past Dallas Baptist, 12-11, on Saturday afternoon at DBU's Horner Ballpark.

The Jax State win evened the series after Friday's game was completed on Saturday afternoon. The Gamecocks and Patriots needed to finish Friday's opener before starting the regularly scheduled Saturday contest with DBU leading 10-9 in the top of the ninth when weather set in for the evening. Jax State, trailing 10-5 entering the inning, plated four runs on Friday night and had the tying and go-ahead run on the corners before DBU recorded the final out for the 10-9 win.

Jackson's home run, the second of the series for the Huntsville, Alabama first baseman, capped off a rally for the Gamecocks after trailing 9-3. It was a mirror image of Friday's comeback that came up short, but on Saturday it was a two-run blast by junior Brennen Norton that tied the game in the eighth before Jackson's solo home run in the ninth. Norton's two-run dinger was the second of the contest for the third baseman from Cullman, Alabama. He and Jackson finished the day with six hits combined and seven of the 12 RBI. All three of Norton's hits were for extra bases and he reached base four times after being hit by a pitch.

DBU, Conference USA's home run leader, powered its way to the big lead with four home runs on the day, including a pair of round trippers in the five-run fourth that erased a 3-2 Jax State lead and take a 7-3 lead. The Patriots would extend the lead to 9-3 with two more in the sixth inning. After Jax State responded with a three-run sixth inning that was highlighted by an RBI from freshman Gabe Young, one of Jackson's four RBI and the final run of the inning from freshman Sam Silas.

After DBU pushed two more runs on the board for an 11-6 lead, the Gamecocks rallied with six runs over the final three plate appearances. Sophomore Bear Madliak drove in a run in the seventh, followed by another Young RBI and Jackson adding a run.

Jax State's bullpen kept DRU off the scoreboard over the final three at bats. The trio of senior Sam Maynard, sophomore Josh Sibley and senior Will Baker combined to hold the Patriots to three hits over the final four innings. Sibley recorded the final out of the eighth inning to earn the win, while Baker tossed a clean ninth inning for the save.

Sunday's series finale will get started at 1 p.m. The contest will be streamed on ESPN+ and carried on the Gamecock Sports Network.