JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville State's sophomore duo of
Cooper Blauser and
Sam Silas combined for six RBI to propel the Gamecocks to their fourth shutout of the season with a 10-0 decision in the series opener with Arkansas State.
With the blanking, Jax State took over the NCAA Division I lead for shutouts after entering the weekend tied with Southeastern Louisiana and Wake Forest, who all had three shutouts so far on the season.
Blauser, who had a pair of hits, broke up a scoreless game in the third inning with an RBI single. Silas pushed a run across the board after laying down a bunt and reaching on a fielder's choice. Blauser and Silas keyed the Gamecocks' five-run sixth that broke the tight contest open. Blauser added two more RBI with his second single of the night, while Silas delivered a two-run double in the frame.
Jax State added a pair of runs in the seventh to end the game on the 10-run rule after seven innings. Junior
Colton Hegwood, who was the third Gamecock with multiple hits had an RBI single, followed by a pinch-hit RBI single by freshman
Matthew Cash.
The Gamecocks have now posted double digits runs in their last four games and the sixth time this season with 10-plus runs.
It was another superb outing for
Jackson Phipps on the mound. The transfer from South Carolina picked up his first win in a Jax State uniform after tossing a season-high 6.0 innings. After getting out of early jams, Phipps got stronger throughout the outing, including retiring nine straight Red Wolves. The lefty from Dallas, Ga., scattered four hits and collected five strikeouts and issued one walk.
Junior
Grayson Knight faced three Red Wolves in the seventh inning on nine pitches.
Juniors
Brady Thomas and
Grayson Ashe contributed with a hit.
The series continues on Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium with a 5 p.m. Saturday contest. Tickets are available online at JaxStateSports.com. All Jax State students and fans 18 years old and younger are admitted free.
Saturday's contest will be carried on the Gamecock Sports Network.
