MIAMI, Fla. – Jacksonville State dropped a tough Conference USA opener on Friday at FIU, 6-3, at the FIU Baseball Stadium.

The Panthers scored six unanswered runs late after the Gamecocks were in command 3-0 through five innings of the opening game of the three-game series in the Sunshine State.

Jax State junior pitcher Jackson Phipps was dominant for five innings before running into trouble in the sixth inning. A one-out walk and a Gamecock fielding miscue opened the door for FIU's big inning. The Panthers took advantage with a two-run triple followed by a game-tying RBI single.

FIU broke up the 3-3 deadlock the following inning after more help from Jax State. FIU started the seventh inning with a leadoff double and took the lead on a wild pitch and a throwing error. The Panthers added a pair of insurance runs in the eighth inning with a two-out, two-run single.

The Gamecocks put together back-to-back scoring innings in the fourth and fifth. Jax State had an opportunity for a big inning after junior Carson Hornung extended his on-base streak to 15 games with a leadoff double followed by a walk of Cooper Blauser. FIU starter Easton Marks collected a pair of strikeouts before Hornung scored on a wild pitch. Junior Brady Thomas belted the second double of the frame to right centerfield for an RBI.

Jax State extended the lead in the fifth inning with an RBI fielder's choice by junior Caleb Johnson. Senior Drew Collins started the inning with a single. Collins has now reached base in 38-of-the-last-42 games.

Junior Colton Hegwood turned in a game-high three hits in the setback. Hegwood now has nine multi-hit games and his second three-hit performance of the season.

The Gamecocks will look to even the series on Saturday at 4 p.m. CT. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and carried on the Gamecock Sports Network.