JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville State picked up its first Conference USA series win of the season after a Saturday doubleheader sweep of Liberty on Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium.

After a tough setback on Friday night in the series opener, the Gamecocks were rewarded with a win via forfeit in the opening game of the twinbill. For conference weekends in CUSA, each team is to submit a 27-man roster for the entire series. When Jax State came to the plate in the first inning, it was brought to the umpires attention that Liberty's starting pitcher was not on the 27-man roster that was turned in to the three-man crew prior to the start of the series on Friday, deeming the starting pitcher an ineligible player and the game ended in a forfeit in favor of the Gamecocks. Submitting a 27-man roster for conference weekends is standard across NCAA Division I college baseball.

With the series even, it forced a rubber match of the series in Jacksonville, Jax State secured its first CUSA series with a 6-1 decision. The Gamecocks jumped on the scoreboard early with a two-out RBI double from junior Brady Thomas. Thomas carried the Jax State offense in the contest with a solo blast to extend the Gamecocks' lead to start the sixth inning.

The Flames plated their lone run of the day in the third after back-to-back two-out doubles. Those two doubles in the third were the only two hits surrendered by Jax State pitching on Saturday.

Junior Steven Cash and junior James Wilson combined to keep the Flames quiet the rest of the way. Cash moved to 3-1 on the season and two wins in CUSA action after tossing 6.0 innings of work and striking out seven Flames. In his two starts against league competition he has collected 12.2 innings and combined for 12 strikeouts. Last week at FIU, he went a career-long 6.2 innings with six strikeouts in Jax State's 12-3 win over the Panthers.

Wilson, who was slated to make his first start in a CUSA affair, finished the last three innings with four strikeouts to earn his first save of the season.
The duo of Cash and Wilson retired 21-of-the-last-23 Flames. The only two LU hitters to reach after the doubles in the third inning were issued walks.

Sophomore Gabe Young took advantage of his opportunity to start on Saturday with a clutch two-run RBI double down the right field line in the fourth inning to break the 1-1 deadlock.

Junior Cooper Blauser padded Jax State's lead with a two-run home run over the left field wall in the eighth inning. His second home run of the season extended his hitting streak to eight games. Junior Carson Hornung pushed his on-base streak to 20 games with a single.

The Gamecocks will travel to Montgomery on Tuesday to take on the Hornets of Alabama State. First pitch from the Watkins Wheeler Baseball Complex is set for 6 p.m. The game will be carried on the Gamecock Sports Network.