MIAMI, Fla. – Jacksonville State dropped the final game of the Conference USA series to FIU, 11-4, on Sunday afternoon at the FIU Baseball Stadium.
The two clubs split the first two games of the series with the Panthers taking Friday's series opener, 6-3, before the Gamecocks bounced-back with a 12-3 win on Saturday.
After collecting a season-high 16 hits against FIU on Saturday, the Jax State offense tallied 12 hits, but could not deliver key hits throughout the day as 13 Gamecocks were left on base, including the bases loaded on two occasions.
For the third straight game, Jax State grabbed the early lead in the second inning on the first of four hits on the day for sophomore
Sam Silas. The Holtville, Alabama added three more singles in his next three plate appearances.
FIU answered with the first of two big three-run home runs in bottom of the third by Kishon Frett to give the home club the lead.
Jax State answered with a pair of runs in the after a run scored on a FIU double play and an RBI single by
Colton Hegwood. FIU took a lead that it would expand with a run in the fourth.
The Panthers broke open the rubber game with a four-run fifth inning, highlighted by a three-run blast from Andrew Ildefonso. FIU extended the lead with two more runs in the seventh.
Junior
Caleb Johnson and junior
Brady Thomas had multiple hits in the setback. Junior
Carson Hornung reached base twice to extend his on-base strak to 17 games. Junior
Grayson Ashe recorded an RBI single.
The Gamecocks will spend spring break week on the diamond with a return trip to Birmingham on Tuesday against UAB. First pitch from Young Memorial Field is set for 6 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and carried on the Gamecock Sports Network.
Jax State will host Liberty next weekend in the Conference USA home opener. The series begins on Friday at 6 p.m. on Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium.
Tickets for the CUSA home series are available online at JaxStateSports.com. All Jax State students and fans 18 years old and younger are admitted free.
