JACKSONVILLE — Caleb Johnson's first extra base hit of the season came at an opportune time, as the shortstop blasted a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning, leading Jax State to a 12-9 victory over the Toledo Rockets in a wild Sunday afternoon contest at Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium.
Jax State improves to 5-2 while Toledo drops to 1-5 on the season.
Chase Horst collected his first victory of the season as he was the active Gamecock pitcher when Johnson hit the go-ahead homer. John Hojnowski was tabbed with the loss as he was the pitcher who gave up the grand slam, putting the Gamecocks ahead for good.
Both teams scored in each of their first three frames of action, with Jax Stat coming out ahead after each inning. The Gamecocks led 2-1 after one, 3-2 after two, and 6-4 after three.
Toledo tied the game in the top of the fourth inning with an RBI-single and a bases-loaded walk. The bottom of the fourth was the first inning where a zero was put up on the scoreboard, with Jax State not being able to send a runner home, carrying the 6-6 tie into the fifth inning.
Toledo regained the lead in the top of the fifth, scoring on an RBI-double, followed by a sacrifice fly, to take an 8-6 lead. The Rockets would add an extra run in the top of the seventh inning with an RBI-single that got through the right side of the infield.
In the bottom of the seventh, Orlando Peña opened the frame with a four-pitch walk, followed by a single up the middle from Matthew Cash and a bunt-single from Cooper Blauser. Johnson launched the ball to the Cocky Korner in right field for his first extra base hit of the year, and tied his career-high with five RBI, four of which came on that swing. After seven, the Gamecocks led 10-9.
The Gamecocks added two insurance runs thanks to Blauser's two-RBI single that landed in right field, leading 12-9 after eight. In the top of the ninth, Horst was able to induce a groundout, a strikeout, and a pop out to first base after a single to secure the sweep of the Rockets.
The Gamecocks totaled four stolen bases in the win, with Blauser registering two and Brady Thomas registering two. Four stolen bases are the most in a game for Jax State since stealing seven bases at Alabama State last season on April 1.
Jax State concludes the season-opening homestand with two midweek contests against Mississippi Valley State on Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday's first pitch is set for 4 p.m., while Wednesday's first pitch is set for 11 a.m.
