Next Game:
at FIU
3/23/2025 | 11:00 AM
Mar. 23 (Sun) / 11:00 AM
at FIU
MIAMI, Fla. – Jacksonville State bounced-back in a big way on Saturday after dropping the Conference USA opener on Friday with a 12-3 win over FIU to even the series in the Sunshine State.
The win sets up a series-deciding Sunday at the FIU Baseball Stadium. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. CT.
Junior lefty Steven Cash turned in a career-high 6.2 innings of work and shut down the Panthers' offense over the final 5.2 innings after a two-run first inning for FIU, Jax State provided Cash with the offense with a season-high 16 hits, including a six-hit, five-run third inning to break a 2-2 deadlock and get separation from the Panthers.
Jax State also took advantage of seven FIU errors in the contest, the most by a Gamecock opponent since April, 2021 as UT Martin was tagged with six miscues.
Junior Caleb Johnson produced his second RBI in the first three innings with a sacrifice fly to begin the scoring in the five-run third. Freshman Matthew Cash helped his brother with a two-run single, followed by a pair of RBI for junior Grayson Ashe after a single back up the middle.
The Gamecocks expanded the lead in the sixth with a Brady Thomas RBI single. Redshirt freshman Cooper Blauser delivered the two runs to give the Gamecocks double digits in the run column for the ninth time this season after a two-out, two RBI double in the seventh. Thomas added his second RBI of the contest with a fielder's choice in the ninth.
Blauser led the Jax State offense with three hits and reached base five times. It was his seventh multi-hit game of the season and his second three-hit performance. Blauser was one of six Gamecocks with multiple hits. The heart of the Gamecock line up combined for six hits as junior Colton Hegwood, Johnson and Carson Hornung all had two hits. Hornung extended his on-base streak to 16 games. Matthew Cash and Ace Williamson also had two hits each.
The series finale will be streamed on ESPN+ and carried on the Gamecock Sports Network.
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