JACKSONVILLE - Jacksonville State wraps up the regular season with the final Conference USA series against Western Kentucky.

The series begins on Thursday at WKU's Nick Denes Field with first pitch set for 6 p.m. The series continues on Friday at 4 p.m. and will wrap up on Saturday at 1 p.m. 

With a CUSA Tournament spot already sewn up after last weekend's series win over Louisiana Tech, the Gamecocks enter the final series still jockeying for one of the top-four seeds in the eight-team field next week in Lynchburg, Va. on the Liberty campus.

SERIES INFO
Jax State (31-22, 13-11 CUSA at Western Kentucky (41-10, 17-7 CUSA ) 

Thursday, May 15 (6 p.m.) 

Probable Starters
Jax State: Steven Cash (4-2, 4.87 ERA), LHP, Jr.
WKU: Jack Bennett (6-1, 2.67 ERA) RHP, Jr.

Live Video: ESPN+
Live Audio: Gamecock Sports Network
Live Stats: JaxStateSports.com
 
Friday, May 16 (4 p.m.)

Probable Starters
Jax State: Jackson Phipps (4-2, 3.52 ERA), LHP, Jr.
WKU: Drew Whalen (9-2, 2.60 ERA) RHP, So.

Live Video: ESPN+
Live Audio: Gamecock Sports Network
Live Stats: JaxStateSports.com

Saturday, May 117 (1 p.m.)  

Probable Starters
Jax State: TBA
WKU: TBA

Live Audio: Gamecock Sports Network
Live Stats: JaxStateSports.com

GAMECOCK STORY LINES

•     Jax State is making its second trip to Bowling Green, Kentucky and the first visit to Western Kentucky since a non-conference series during the 2017 season. The Hilltoppers lead the series 5-4 after sweeping the Gamecocks last season in Jacksonville (4-2, 5-4, 11-6). he Gamecocks claimed the series in 2017 with a pair of wins over WKU. Jax State swept WKU in a series on Rudy Abbott Field in 2016 before the renovation of the facility that began in 2017.

•     After Jax State went 18-34 in 2024, the Gamecocks have bounced back in the second season under Steve Bieser with a 31-21 record (+13 wins) entering the week. The Gamecocks' turnaround ranks third among other NCAA teams that have improved the win total from last season. The Bruins of UCLA have the biggest turnaround in 2025 with a 34-14 record in 2025 after a 19-win season in 2024. 

•     In two of Steve Bieser's previous stops (Southeast Missouri, Missouri and Jax State), the second year under him, the program made great strides in the win column. After a 26-33 first season at SEMO, he led the Redhawks to a 37-20 overall record (+11 wins). SEMO claimed the regular season crown, but the Gamecocks made the improbable run through the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament after dropping the first game.

•      After turning in a second consecutive outing worthy of Conference USA Pitcher of the Week honors, Jacksonville State's Steven Cash was named the CUSA Pitcher of the Week after a dominant performance over LA Tech. Cash, who tossed a seven-inning complete game at Middle Tennessee on May 4, mirrored that outing with seven innings of work and a career-high 10 strikeouts on Saturday to guide the Gamecocks to a 4-0 blanking of LA Tech. The 10 strikeouts is the most by a Gamecock pitcher since Isaiah Magwood fanned 11 in a contest against North Alabama in March of 2022.

•     Jax State has had a power surge over the last 17 games with 26-of-the-47 home runs this season coming during that span. Junior Grayson Ashe has recorded 7-of-his-team-high-10 home runs over the stretch of the last 12 games, while Brady Thomas has four home runs dating back to the April 15 contest with Auburn.