JACKSONVILLE – Beau Bryans matched his career-high of 10 strikeouts as Jax State shut out New Mexico State on Saturday afternoon, 4-0, to even the series.

Jax State improves to 35-9 overall and 17-3 in Conference USA play with the win, while New Mexico State falls for the first time this week after wins over the Gamecocks and No. 25 Arizona State, falling to 18-23 overall and 8-12 in CUSA play.

Bryans improved to 5-0 with yet another quality start, hurling six and one-thirds innings of scoreless ball, only scattering four hits with the aforementioned 10 strikeouts. Jackson Sleeper earned his fourth save of the season with 2.2 innings of perfect relief, coming in with two runners on in the seventh inning.

NM State starter Jack Turner turned in his sixth loss of the year to fall to 3-6 on the year. Both starting pitchers tallied a total of 107 pitches in their outings.

The Gamecocks took to the board first in the bottom of the second inning, when Trey King knocked his first triple of the season to right-center field, plating Grayson Ashe and Luke Williams to take a 2-0 lead early.

The Gamecocks would add two more runs in the bottom of the third, starting with a sacrifice bunt from Cooper Blauser to plate Jaxon Pate. The second run of the inning and fourth run of the day would score due to a throwing error by the Aggies third baseman, allowing Caleb Johnson to get home for the 4-0 lead.

From there, the Gamecocks faced the minimum in four of the remaining six innings. In the top of the fourth and fifth innings, the Gamecocks turned two double plays to increase its season total to 39.

Pate led the team offensively with two hits, going two-for-three with a walk and a run scored. 

The Gamecocks look to take the series on Sunday in the rubber match. First pitch from Steven Cash is scheduled for 11 a.m. The Aggies have yet to announce a starter for Sunday's contest.