Baseball Nearly Upsets NCAA Division I’s Jackson State On The Road

JACKSON, Miss. – The Rust College baseball program came painstakingly close to knocking off an NCAA Division I opponent on the road Tuesday afternoon as the Bearcats led the Jackson State Tigers all the way through the top of the sixth before the Blue Bengals scored three in the bottom half to avoid the upset in a heartbreaking 5-4 defeat.

The Basics:

• Score (7 Innings)
• • Jackson State – 5
  • Rust – 4

• Records
• • Rust (3-16, 1-2 Gulf Coast)
  • Jackson State (10-3, 0-0 SWAC)

• Location
• • Jackson, Mississippi – Braddy Field

• Series History (Since 2013)
• • Jackson State Leads 6-0 (0%)

• Winning Streak (Since 2013)
• • Jackson State (W6) | Rust's Last Win: N/A

Rust Top Performers:

• Matthew LeBlanc showed out in the state capital, crushing a three-run blast to left field in the top of the first inning to give the Blue and White a 3-0 lead that held for another five full frames. He was also a part of the team's only other scoring play, scampering home on an error by the JSU pitcher.

• Brent Jackson had a major impact without posting an official at-bat, earning a walk in each of his three plate appearances.

• William Baker grinded through 4.1 innings on the bump, exiting the game with a 4-2 lead after allowing just a pair of runs up to that point.

• Jordan Fitzpatrick and JaShaun Franks both logged two singles apiece with the former also crossing the dish on the dinger.

• Malik Berrien notched one base knock and Jalik Demar scored a run to complete the statistical notables.

Next:

• RC will step down a level on Wednesday at 2 p.m. when they host the NCAA Division II's LeMoyne-Owen Magicians inside Bearcat Field.

#BatesBall | #PawsUp