BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Western Kentucky broke open a 4-4 contest with a five-run seventh to even the series with Jacksonville State with a 9-4 win on Friday afternoon at Nick Denes Field.

After the Gamecocks quieted the Hilltoppers with a 5-1 win on Thursday night, WKU forces a rubber game of the series on Saturday at 1 p.m. Jax State will be looking to secure their seventh Conference USA series of the season and fourth road conference weekend series.

The two clubs traded runs through the first six innings and each time Jax state took a lead WKU answered. The Hilltoppers had a chance for a big first inning, but Gamecock starter Jackson Phipps limited the damage to a run. The Gamecocks handed Phipps a lead to work with on redshirt sophomore Cooper Blauser's two-run triple in the third inning. WKU equalized with a run in the home half before and RBI double from freshman Matthew Cash in the fourth inning.

WKU matched Jax State with a single run in the fifth inning. Jax State took its final lead in the sixth inning on an RBI single by junior Ace Williamson. The Gamecocks had chances throughout the game for nig innings, but WKU would get timely outs. Jax State stranded six in the contest, while WKU left 12 on the base baths.

The Hilltoppers' big seventh inning was keyed y five hits off Jax State pitchers. WKU also took advantage of 10 walks issued by the Gamecock arms.

Junior Grayson Ashe had a third of Jax State's nine hits with a three-hit day, including a double in the fourth inning. Senior Drew Collins collected a pair of hits to extend his on-base streak to 21 straight games.

Jax State will wrap up the regular season with Saturday's 1 p.m. contest. The league will announce the 2025 CUSA Baseball Championship bracket following the conclusion of all the games on Saturday.

The game will be carried on the Gamecock Sports Network.