Hilltoppers Complete CUSA Weekend Sweep
with an 11-6 setback to Western Kentucky on Saturday afternoon at Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium.
The Hilltoppers completed the weekend sweep after winning 4-2 on Thursday night and clinching the series on Friday night, 5-4. WKU improved to 19-10 on the season and 4-2 in CUSA action, while Jax State dropped to 9-18 overall and will enter next weekend’s series with FIU searching for its first league win.
After WKU scored a lone run in the first inning, it scored in bunches in three separate innings throughout the afternoon tilt with a four-run third inning after Jax State had taken a 4-1 lead with three runs in the second. The Hilltoppers broke the game open with a three-run fifth and after the Gamecocks put the tying runs on base after one run was pushed across the plate in the eighth inning to make it 8-6. WKU added three runs for insurance in the ninth inning.
A trio of Gamecocks tallied multi-hit games with junior Brennen Norton collected his 10th multi-hit game of the season and his ninth game of the season with two hits. Freshman Gabe Young posted a pair of hits in the designated hitters spot. Freshman Hudson Walburn came off the bench to record a pair of doubles. Sophomore Bear Madliak started the Jax State comeback with a one-out solo home run in the sixth inning. It was his third home run of the season and the 35th home run of the season for the Gamecocks. He has now reached base in 18 straight games and pushed a hitting streak to six games. He finished with a pair of RBI after a sacrifice fly in the first inning.
Sophomore Caleb Johnson reached base on two occasions with a walk in the first inning and a single in the ninth. Johnson has been aboard in every game this season and extended his on-base streak to 32 games dating back to the last five games of last season.
The Hilltoppers completed the weekend sweep after winning 4-2 on Thursday night and clinching the series on Friday night, 5-4. WKU improved to 19-10 on the season and 4-2 in CUSA action, while Jax State dropped to 9-18 overall
Jax State continues the homestand with a Wednesday meeting with Troy on Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. Tickets are available online at JaxStateSports.com. All Jax State students and fans 18 years old and younger are admitted free. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and carried on the Gamecock Sports Network.
