JACKSONVILLE — Jax State baseball will open a four-game road slate with a midweek game against the 15th-ranked Auburn Tigers on Tuesday night. First pitch from Plainsman Park is set for 6 p.m.
Jax State is currently 27-6 on the season after a three-game sweep of the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders over the weekend. On Thursday, the Gamecocks scored all six runs between the fifth and seventh innings to open the series with a win. In game two, Greg LaChance hit a pinch hit grand slam to tie the game, then Trey Majette walked it off on a wild pitch. Steven Cash pitched a gem on Saturday to help sweep MTSU. On Thursday, the Gamecocks scored all six runs between the fifth and seventh innings to open the series with a win. In game two, Greg LaChance hit a pinch hit grand slam to tie the game, then Trey Majette walked it off on a wild pitch. Steven Cash pitched a gem on Saturday to help sweep MTSU.
Auburn is currently 22-9 and coming off of a series victory over the then-15th-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks. The Tigers bookended the series with victories after dropping the middle game on Saturday. The Tigers are led offensively by Brandon McCraine, who has tallied 33 hits this season for a batting average of .347. Chase Fralick is leading the team in slugging percentage at .598 with 11 doubles, a triple, and six homers.
Jax State has claimed a spot in three national polls. Headlining this is the program's first appearance in the Baseball America rankings with a ranking of No. 24. The team stayed at No. 24 in the NBCWA poll and rose to No. 21 in the Perfect Game poll. The Gamecocks are also receiving votes in another major poll, the USA Today Coaches Poll (59 points, 28th-most). Jax State is also ranking highly in several mid-major polls, coming in at No. 5 in 6-4-3 Charts Diamond Sports Rankings Mid-Major poll and No. 5 in 11.7's Mid-Major Power Rankings. PEARatings has Jax State at No. 3 in the mid-major NET ratings.
Jax State players Eli Pillsbury and Grayson Ashe have taken home some personal accolades in recent days. Pillsbury was named Midsesaon All-America by D1Baseball (2nd Team) and Perfect Game (3rd Team), while Grayson Ashe was named to the Buster Posey Award Midseason Watchlist.
Jax State has the fifth-most double plays in Division I with 31, tied with Butler, La Salle, Nicholls, and Rice. New Orleans leads the nation with 36.
The Gamecocks will start righty James Wilson (0-0, 8.36 ERA) on the mound against Auburn. The Tigers will open the game with right-hander Christian Chatterton (2-1, 5.65 ERA).
Fans can watch the game on the SEC Network+, or by listening to the Gamecocks Radio Network. Mike Parris and Jim Case will have the call from Plainsman Park.
