JACKSONVILLE - Jacksonville State will wrap up its docket at The Jim this weekend with a key Conference USA series against Louisiana Tech.
The final home series of the weekend will start on Friday at 6 p.m. Jax State will honor its senior class prior to the 6 p.m. contest. Senior outfielder
Drew Collins, senior designated hitter
Carson Hornung and senior student manager Macenzie Dougharty will be recognized prior to first pitch. The series concludes with a Mother's Day matinee contest at 1 p.m.
Tickets for the series are available at JaxStateSports.com. All Jax State students and fans 18 years old and younger are admitted free.
All three games will be streamed on ESPN+ and carried on the Gamecock Sports Network.
Both teams enter the weekend jockeying for postseason positions with two weekends left in the regular season. The Gamecocks will be looking for its sixth CUSA series win and their fourth in a row after consecutive series wins over New Mexico State, Sam Houston and Middle Tennessee.
SERIES INFO
Louisiana Tech (27-20, 11-9 CUSA) at Jax State (29-20, 11-10 CUSA)
Friday, May 9 (6 p.m.)
Probable Starters
Jax State:
Jackson Phipps (3-2, 3.95 ERA), LHP, Jr.
Louisiana Tech: Logan Forsythe (0-0, 5.00 ERA) RHP, Jr.
Live Video: ESPN+
Live Audio: Gamecock Sports Network
Live Stats: JaxStateSports.com
Saturday, May 10 (6 p.m.)
Probable Starters
Jax State: Steven Cash (4-2, 4.87 ERA), LHP, Jr.
Louisiana Tech: Brook Roberson (5-2, 4.32 ERA) RHP, Fr.
Live Video: ESPN+
Live Audio: Gamecock Sports Network
Live Stats: JaxStateSports.com
Sunday, May 11 (1 p.m.)
Probable Starters
Jax State: TBA
Louisiana Tech: TBA
Live Video: ESPN+
Live Audio: Gamecock Sports Network
Live Stats: JaxStateSports.com
GAMECOCK STORY LINES
• This weekend's series with Louisiana Tech is the second-ever meeting between the two schools and the first in Jacksonville. Last season, the Gamecocks played their first-ever Conference USA series in Ruston against the Bulldogs. LA Tech swept the series (12-8, 9-4, 5-1).
• After Jax State went 18-34 in 2024, the Gamecocks have bounced back in the second season under Steve Bieser with a 29-20 record (+11 wins) entering the weekend. The Gamecocks' turnaround ranks second among other NCAA teams that have improved the win total from last season. Jax State enters the weekend tied with Rhode Island, who has 11 more wins on the season after a 19-28 mark in 2024. 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.
• Junior
Ace Williamson has been on base in the last 13 games and enters the weekend riding a 12-game hitting streak. During Williamson's 12-game hitting streak, he has accumulated 20 hits for a .417 clip at the dish with nine of those hits for extra bases (5 2Bs, 1 3B, 3 HRs). Williamson has delivered 14 RBI and swiped four bases. Senior
Drew Collins starts the weekend on a 16-game on-base streak.
• Jax State has had a power surge over the last 13 games with 20-of-the-41 home runs this season coming during that span. Junior
Grayson Ashe has recorded 6-of-his-team-high-9 home runs over the stretch of the last 12 games, while
Ace Williamson and
Brady Thomas have three each in the last 12 games.
• The Gamecocks' magic number to clinch a CUSA Tournament berth is down to two games. A pair of wins by Jax State or a win and loss by Sam Houston secures Jax State's trip to Lynchburg, Va.
