Alex Strachan’s run-scoring single with one out in the 11th inning gave Jacksonville State a 9-8 win over eighth-ranked Georgia Wednesday at Jim Case Stadium.
JSU (27-21) built a 7-2 lead, scoring in each of the first four frames before the Bulldogs blanked the Gamecocks in the fifth. JSU chased Georgia starter Logan Moody in the second as he allowed four runs on five hits. Justin Glover came on and pitched the next two innings and JSU added three unearned runs. Five of its first seven runs came with two outs. Ryan Webb provided two scoreless innings with three strikeouts for Georgia.
The Bulldogs (37-13) rallied back in the fifth, sending 10 batters to the plate and scoring five runs on five hits to make it 7-all. In the frame, Cam Shepherd started it with a leadoff walk and scored on Riley King’s first triple of the year. He came home on a sacrifice fly by LJ Talley. Later in the inning with the bases loaded, pinch-hitter Aaron Schunk, who had missed the past six games due to a heel injury, delivered a two-run double to close the gap to 7-6. Freshman Randon Jernigan tied the game with an RBI-single to cap the outburst.
Georgia took an 8-7 lead in the ninth on back-to-back doubles by Talley and John Cable (4-for-5, 3 RBI). In the bottom of the ninth, the Gamecocks were down to their last strike when Strachan tied the game with his seventh home run of the year off Bulldog reliever Zac Kristofak. It was the lone run he allowed in three innings with five strikeouts. In the 11th, Schunk went in to pitch and Alex Webb lined a double over the head of left fielder Connor Tate. After an intentional walk to Nic Gaddis, Georgia retired Webb at third on a bunt attempt by Issac Alexander. Andrew Naismith reached on a walk to load the bases.
Cody Willingham pitched the top of the 11th for the win to even his record to 1-1 while Schunk took the loss to fall to 1-2.
Dawg Tracks
- Graduate DH John Cable had a career-high 4-hit game including the go-ahead RBI-double in the ninth. Cable and Randon Jernigan (vs. Alabama St.) are the only two Bulldogs to have 4-hit games this year.
- Junior Aaron Schunk returned as a pinch-hitter and delivered a two-run double in the fifth. He remained in the game to play third. It was his first action in six games due to a heel injury. He pitched the 11th inning too.
- For the 28th time this year, Georgia had an outburst of four or more runs in an inning, striking for five in the fifth tonight.
Coach’s Corner
Ike Cousins Head Baseball Coach Scott Stricklin
On the game…
“You have to give credit to JSU, they swung the bats well and got an early lead. I thought we fought back to not only tie the game but then take the lead. We were a strike away and they came back on us. We competed very hard, and they battled too. The bottom line is now this one is over, and we have to get ready to play a really good Auburn team.”
Up Next
Georgia begins an SEC road series against Auburn starting Friday at 7 p.m. ET (SEC Network+)