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Jacksonville State University Athletics

Composite Calendar
Eli Pillsbury
2
Valparaiso VALPO 5-6
3
Winner Jacksonville St. JAXST 11-3
Valparaiso VALPO
5-6
2
Final
3
Jacksonville St. JAXST
11-3
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Valparaiso VALPO 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 5 0
Jacksonville St. JAXST 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 X 3 7 1

W: Hutto, Skyler (1-0) L: Ryan Kruse (0-1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Pillsbury Deals as Gamecocks Take Opener Over Valparaiso, 3-2

Pillsbury strikes out 10, most of any Jax State pitcher so far this season

JACKSONVILLE — Starting pitcher Eli Pillsbury stuck out 10 in 5.2 innings to lead Jax State to a 3-2 victory over the Valparaiso Beacons on Friday night at Jim Case Stadium.

Jax State bounces back after a midweek loss to improve to 11-3 on the year, while Valparaiso falls to 5-6.

Skyler Hutto earned his first victory of the season as the pitcher that was active when the lead changed in favor of the Gamecocks. Ryan Kruse was tagged with his first loss of the season for the Beacons for giving up the go-ahead and game-winning run.

The Beacons scored the first run of the game in the top of the first inning on a sac fly, which was the first out of the game. Jax State was able to keep the opposition at bay after that, inducing a swinging strikeout to end the inning with a runner on second.

From there, both sides were locked in a pitcher's duel, with Valpo carrying the 1-0 lead all the way to the sixth inning. In the home half of that inning, Grayson Ashe would plate Cooper Blauser to tie the game on an RBI-double. Ashe would then give the Gamecocks a brief 2-1 lead when he scored on a wild pitch.

The top of the seventh inning saw the Beacons tie the game at 2-2 with a one-out RBI-single, conceding Hutto's first run of the year.

The Gamecocks would take the lead for good in the bottom of the seventh inning with a Brady Thomas RBI-single, scoring Jaxon Pate.

Hutto would lock down the Beacons bats for the remainder of the game, finishing the game off with a one-two-three inning in the top of the ninth, including a strikeout to lead off the inning.

In total, Pillsbury and Hutto accounted for 14 strikeouts on the night, tied for the second-most strikeouts by the Gamecocks pitching staff in a game. Pillsbury's 10 strikeouts were the most by a Jax State pitcher this season.

Jax State will look to clinch the series with a win on Saturday afternoon. Action starts at 2 p.m. from Jim Case Stadium. Saturday's game will not be streamed on ESPN+. Those who will not be in attendance are encouraged to follow along with the action via internet radio or live stats.

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