JACKSONVILLE - Jacksonville State returns to Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium for another weekend series as it faces first-time foe Arkansas State in a three-game series.

The Gamecocks (7-2) will be looking to bounce-back after snapping a six-game winning streak with a Tuesday setback at No. 25 Alabama. The Red Wolves (3-6) enter the weekend having played five games in the last five days (Sunday, DH vs. Eastern Illinois, Monday, vs. EIU, Tuesday vs. Southern Illinois, Wednesday vs. SEMO).

Tickets are available online at JaxStateSports.com. All Jax State students and fans 18 years old and younger are admitted free,

SERIES INFO
Friday, Feb. 28 (6 p.m.) 

Probable Starters
Jax State: Jackson Phipps (0-0, 1.08 ERA), LHP, Jr.
Arkansas State: Collin Maloney (0-1, 2.19 ERA), RHP, So.

Live Video: ESPN+
Live Audio: Gamecock Sports Network
Live Stats: JaxStateSports.com
 
Saturday, March 1 (6 p.m.)

Probable Starters
Jax State: Karson Bonaparte (1-1, 2.16 ERA), RHP, Jr.
Arkansas State: Jack Nelson (0-0, 1.93 ERA), LHP, Sr.

Live Audio: Gamecock Sports Network
Live Stats: JaxStateSports.com
 
Sunday, March 2 (1 p.m.) - YOUTH SPORTS DAY (WEAR YOUR TEAMS JERSEY) | SUNDAY FUNDAY - KIDS RUN THE BASE AFTER THE GAME

Probable Starters
Jax State: Steven Cash (1-0, 2.00 ERA), LHP, Jr.
Arkansas State: Jack Hibbard (1-1, 3.75 ERA), RHP, Fr.

Live Video: ESPN+
Live Audio: Gamecock Sports Network
Live Stats: JaxStateSports.com

GAMECOCK STORYLINES
•    The weekend series with Arkansas State will be the first meetings between the two programs on the diamond. The Red Wolves become the second consecutive weekend foe that the Gamecocks have never faced previously. The Red Wolves are just the second opponent from the state of Arkansas that Jax State has played. The other school from the Natural State was Central Arkansas, when the Jax State was a two-year member of the ASUN. Jax State won five-of-the-eight meetings with the Bears. Jax State has faced off against eight other teams that currently make up the Sun Belt Conference - Appalachian State, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Louisiana-Monroe, South Alabama and Southern Miss.

•     The Gamecocks begin the third week of the season as the NCAA Division I Baseball leader in triples. In the first eight games at the spacious Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium, Jax State has collected 10 triples and leads San Diego State (7) by three entering the midweek action. Jax State has five different players with a triple this season, including three players with multiple triples. Senior Drew Collins leads the nation with three triples, followed by a pair each by juniors Colton Hegwood and Caleb Johnson.

•    The Gamecocks' bullpen has been stellar through the first two-plus weeks of the season. The 17 arms that have been used out of the bullpen have tossed 47.1-of-the-80.0 innings pitched for Jax State through nine games and has collected five wins. The relievers have a combined earned run average of 4.94 and has allowed 26 earned runs and accumulating 36 strikeouts. The opposition is hitting .211 against Gamecock relievers.

•    Jax State's weekend rotation of Jackson Phipps, Karson Bonaparte and Steven Cash have a combined earned run average of 1.75. The trio has tossed over 25 innings with 27 strikeouts and allowed five earned runs.

•    Jax State enters the week ranked second in NCAA Division I Baseball in hit-by-pitches. Through eight games, the Gamecocks have been the victims of 27 hit-by-pitches. Third baseman Cooper Blauser leads the club with being hit-by-a-pitch five times, which ranks him 36th in the country.