JACKSONVILLE, Ala. (3/1/25) – Arkansas State baseball (3-8, 0-0 SBC) carried a two-run advantage late against Jacksonville State (9-2, 0-0 CUSA), but could not hold on in an 8-7 defeat on Saturday night at Jim Case Stadium.
 
Jack Nelson made his third start of the season, surrendering three runs (all earned) on five hits while striking out four batters over 3.1 innings pitched. Six pitchers entered the contest for A-State, surrendering nine hits while striking out seven batters.
 
At the plate, Kaden Amundson finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two walks while Wil French went 3-for-6 with two RBIs and one run scored. Patrick Engskov also finished with three hits while Cross Jumper tallied two.
 
As a team, the Red Wolves notched 13 knocks including two doubles from Engskov and a triple from French.
 
A-State took advantage of two early errors by the Gamecocks, allowing French to score from third following a sacrifice fly from Daedrick Cail. After a quiet second inning, Jacksonville State responded with a pair of RBI-singles in the bottom of the third and claimed a 2-1 advantage.
 
French brought in Amundson from second with a single to centerfield and tied the game in the fourth, but the Gamecocks nullified the scoring effort with a single to left field in the next frame.
 
The Scarlet and Black opened the fifth with a single and double while Raul Torres reached on a fielder’s choice, putting runners at first and second. Amundson tied the game and put the go-ahead run at third with a single to left field before Ashton Quiller broke the tie with a sacrifice bunt.
 
French capped off a three-run frame with a triple down the right field line, bringing in Amundson and making the score 5-3 in favor of the Red Wolves. The lead grew to four in the seventh due to a two-run single from Amundson, but a two-run triple from Jacksonville State closed the gap back to two in the next frame.
 
With a runner on first and one out in the eighth, an error and hit-by-pitch loaded the bases before a walk closed the lead to one. The Gamecocks’ lone hit of the inning scored two runs and put the Red Wolves behind 8-7 with one last chance.
 
The Scarlet and Black went down in order during the top of the ninth, resulting in a series defeat to the Gamecocks. Brice Deaton (1-0) earned the win and Joe Scarborough claimed the save while Chase Richter (1-2) took the loss.
 
NEXT UP
A-State concludes a three-game series against Jacksonville State on Sunday, March 2 at 1:00 p.m. on Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium. Listeners can find the series opener on 95.3 The Ticket, with coverage beginning 15 minutes prior to first pitch.

SOCIAL MEDIA
For the latest on the A-State baseball program, follow @AStateBaseball on Twitter/X and @astatebaseball on Instagram, while also liking Arkansas State Baseball on Facebook.