JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville State completed the weekend sweep of Arkansas State in walk off fashion with a 7-6, 12-inning Sunday contest on Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium.
After the Red Wolves broke a 5-5 deadlock in the top half of the inning with a leadoff home run, the Gamecocks put together a rally for their 10th win of the season. Junior
Ace Williamson, who caused trouble for A-State all day, laced a game-winning single to right field. Williamson, a transfer from Southern Union Community College, collected four hits and delivered three RBI.
He started his day with his third home run of the season and second of the week with a two-run blast to right centerfield to knot the game at 2-2 in the second inning. Williamson added a pair of doubles with one in the fourth inning and led off the ninth frame with a double.
Jax State matched A-State ahead of Williamson's game winner on a pinch hit fielder's choice from freshman
Matthew Cash, who beat out a ground ball to score redshirt sophomore
Cooper Blauser, who had an infield single in the frame.
The Gamecocks answered each time the Red Wolves took a lead throughout the contest. After a pair of runs by A-State in the fourth inning for a two-run lead, that advantage was quickly dissolved after the Gamecocks plated three runs in its fourth at bat. Junior
Colton Hegwood, who was a thorn for A-State all weekend long, had an RBI on a sacrifice fly, followed by
Zander Buchan and
Trey Majette registering back-to-back RBI on fielder's choices.
In the three-game series, Hegwood was 6-for-11 with a pair of doubles and three RBI. He reached eight times on the weekend with a pair of walks. Williamson also finished the weekend with six hits, including the two doubles and solo blast on Sunday. He added a triple in Saturday's come-from-behind win.
Blauser and
Carson Hornung joined Williamson with multiple hits as both posted two hits each.
Both clubs used 15 pitchers combined in the four-plus hour game. Freshman
Maddox McDougall shook off A-State's lead off home run in the top of the 12 to limit the deficit to one. He picked up his first win in a Gamecock uniform.
The Gamecocks return to action on Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium on Tuesday against the Crimson Tide of Alabama. UA will visit Jacksonville for the first time since the 2022 season. Jax State will be looking to avenge a loss to 'Bama last Tuesday in Tuscaloosa. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Tickets for the midweek affair with UA are available online at JaxStateSports.com. All Jax State students and fans 18 years old and younger are admitted free.
The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and carried on the Gamecock Sports Network.
