JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville State dropped the opening game of the Conference USA series against Dallas Baptist, 8-1, on a crisp Friday night on Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium.
DBU (22-11, 6-4 CUS) plated a run in the second inning and expanded the lead with seven runs over the next four innings, while the Patriots' starting pitcher, Micah Buckman shook off two Jax State (21-13, 5-5 CUSA) hits in the first inning to silence the Gamecocks over the next 4.2 innings for an all-around dominant performance by visitors from Texas. Buckman picked up his fifth win of the season after collecting nine strikeouts in the outing.
The Patriots added multiple runs in the third with a three spot and added a pair of runs in the fourth inning.
After the two Jax State hits in the first inning, DBU's pitching staff limited Jax State to three hits the rest of the way. Senior
Carson Hornung was the lone Gamecock to have multiple hits as the Overland Park, Kansas designated hitter turned in a pair of singles. He extended his on-base streak to 26 games right off the bat with a single in his first plate appearance. He added his second hit with a single in the seventh. Hornung reached for the third time on Friday with a walk in the sixth.
Jax State manufactured its run in the seventh after a double steal led to a throwing error by the DBU catcher, scoring
Colton Hegwood on the play. Hegwood reached with a one-out single. The Gamecocks had opportunities throughout the game with 11 base runners stranded in the setback.
Junior
Caleb Johnson extended his on-base streak to 11 games with a single third inning, while redshirt sophomore
Cooper Blauser had a hit that followed Hornung's hit in the first inning.
The Jax State bullpen was touched for one of DBU's runs over the final five frames with juniors
Jaxson Davis and
Connor Brooks combining for six strikeouts.
The series continues on Saturday at The Jim with a Saturday evening contest at 6 p.m. The series will wrap up on Sunday at a new start time of 12 p.m. Tickets are available online at JaxStateSports.com. All Jax State students and fans 18 years old and younger are admitted free.
Saturday's game will be streamed on ESPN+ and carried on the Gamecock Sports Network.