LAS CRUCES, N.M. – After scoring a season-high 17 runs on Thursday night, it was a pair of solid pitching performances and junior catcher Grayson Ashe delivering three hits in Jacksonville State's 6-1 win over New Mexico State on Friday night.

The win secures the Gamecocks' third Conference USA series win and the second league series win away from Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium. Jax State will be looking for its first CUSA series sweep on Saturday at Presley Askew Field. The series finale will get started at 12 p.m. CT.

Jax State kept its pitching rotation on a full week of rest and it proved to be beneficial to junior Jackson Phipps on Friday. The lefty was effective for 6.0 innings, scattering five Aggie hits and recording three strikeouts. After being handed a lead to work with, he avoided trouble in three innings. He collected his third win of the season. From one Jackson to another, Jackson Sleeper pitched the final three frames, holding NM State hitless and tallying four strikeouts. Sleeper secured his third save of the season.

The duo combined to hold NM State to a run, which was a season-low for the home club. It's the fewest runs by the Aggies on their home turf since being blanked at home last season by Sam Houston State.

Ashe, who had a pair of hits and four RBI in Thursday's 17-12 win over the Aggies, continued to swing a hot bat in the thin air out west. The Montgomery, Alabama native gave Jax State the early lead with an RBI single in the second inning and blasted his second home run of the series with a two-run home run in the third inning.

The Gamecocks nursed a 3-1 lead until they added three runs in the ninth inning for insurance. Ashe picked up his third hit of the contest with a leadoff double. For the second consecutive night, a Gamecock was a hit shy of completing the cycle. On Thursday, Ace Williamson was a double shy of the cycle, while Ashe needed a triple on Friday to complete the cycle. In two games this weekend, Ashe is 5-for-8 with four runs and six RBI.

Jax State benefited from an Aggie throwing miscue on a sacrifice bunt by pinch hitter Sam Silas. Junior Colton Hegwood turned in an RBI single, followed by another pinch hit RBI from Trey Majette, who grounded out to the right side of the diamond.

Saturday's contest will be streamed on ESPN+ and carried on the Gamecock Sports Network.