MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Jacksonville State picked up its fourth consecutive midweek win with a 12-6 decision over Alabama State at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex on Tuesday evening.
The Gamecocks have now secured consecutive wins over Troy, Samford, UAB and now Alabama State over the last four midweek outings. Jax State improved to 19-10 overall and will remain on the road this weekend with a short trip across the state line in Georgia to face Conference USA's newest member, Kennesaw State. The three-game series will be played in Marietta, Georgia at S. Walter Kelly Sr. Memorial Field due to renovations at KSU's on-campus facility. First pitch on Friday is set for 5 p.m. CT.
Jax State started fast with its biggest first inning production of the season with four runs in the first at bat. The Gamecocks took advantage of three Hornet errors in the inning the led to RBI singles for junior
Carson Hornung and senior
Drew Collins. Junior
Caleb Johnson turned in his first of two sac fly RBI on the night in the inning. The highlight of the inning was a two-run blast by Montgomery native
Grayson Ashe. Ashe, who prepped at Trinity in the Montgomery area and transferred to Jax State after two seasons at Wallace State.
For the second consecutive Tuesday, freshman
Maddox McDougall turned in a solid start on the mound. With a big lead, McDougall scattered five hits and allowed a pair of runs in the outing. He posted a pair of strikeouts and did not issue a walk.
The Hornets, who used 10 pitchers on the night, kept the Gamecocks from expanding the lead until the fifth inning. After a pair of runs in the fourth by ASU, Jax State answered with an RBI single from sophomore
Sam Silas.
ASU made it new game with a run in the fifth and a bases-clearing triple in the sixth to make ot a one-run contest. Junior
Jackson Sleeper stranded the tying run by striking out the next three Hornets. For the second time in the game, Jax State answered a rally by ASU.
The Gamecocks broke the game open with four runs in the seventh inning which was bolstered by a two-run single from Collins. Freshman
Matthew Cash recorded an RBI in the eighth with a base hit. Cash finished with two RBI in the game.
Sleeper picked up his second win on the season with two innings of work and four strikeouts.
The KSU series will be streamed on ESPN+ and carried on the Gamecock Sports Network.
