JACKSONVILLE – A six-run third inning by Jacksonville State highlighted a 9-5 win over UAB on Tuesday night at Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium.
The win completed the season sweep of the Blazers after a 4-1 win in March at Young Memorial Field. Jax State has now won three in a row over their in-state rivals from the southside of Birmingham. The Gamecocks pick up their first season sweep of UAB since the 2019 season. Jax State has now swept both Birmingham-based rivals – Samford and UAB in the same season.
The Gamecocks broke open a 2-1 contest in the third inning as they sent 11 batters to the plate against three different Blazer pitchers. Junior
Drew Collins, who had three hits on the night, including two of the three hits in the frame, started the big inning with a single. He added a two-run double down the left field line in his second trip to the plate in the inning. Jax State took advantage of three walks by UAB and a costly dropped fly ball. Junior
Ace Williamson recorded the other hit in the inning with a two-run double. Juniors
Brady Thomas and
Colton Hegwood each had an RBI in the lengthy inning on a walk and sacrifice fly.
Thomas joined Collins with a three-hit night, highlighted by a solo home run in the sixth to extend Jax State's lead. He reached base in all five plate appearances with a pair of singles and two free passes. Williamson finished with a two-hit game – both doubles. Redshirt sophomore
Cooper Blauser had an RBI single in the first inning and reached base two other times via walk to extend his on-base streak to 11 games.
Freshman
Maddox McDougall made his fifth start in midweek games and pitched the first two innings. Junior
Ryan Geraghty turned in another solid appearance out of the bullpen with a pair of innings and two strikeouts. He picked up the win to move to 2-1 on the season. UAB's Braxton Shelton suffered the loss.
Jax State returns to action this weekend in Conference USA play against Sam Houston. The series begins on Friday at 6 p.m. Tickets for the weekend are available online at JaxStateSports.com. All Jax State students and fans 18 years old and younger are admitted free.
The three games with the Bearkats will be streamed on ESPN+ and carried on the Gamecock Sports Network.
