JACKSONVILLE, Ala. (Interstat) — Jacksonville State’s Beau Bryans pitched seven strong innings and Caleb Johnson delivered a go-ahead double in the seventh as the Gamecocks rallied past Kennesaw State 5-4 on Saturday at Rudy Abbott Field in a Conference USA matchup.

Bryans allowed five hits and one earned run while striking out five over seven innings to earn the win for Jacksonville State, which improved to 39-11 overall. Kennesaw State fell to 24-23. The Gamecocks evened the three-game series after losing the opener 5-2 on Friday.

The game began with a pitching duel as Kennesaw State starter Harry Cain and Bryans held the opposition scoreless through the first inning. Cain struck out the side in the bottom of the first, but Jacksonville State broke through in the second. Brady Thomas launched a two-run home run to right-center field, scoring Grant Ashe who had doubled earlier in the inning, giving the Gamecocks a 2-0 lead.

Jacksonville State added another run in the third. M. Cash led off with a double, moved to third on a single by J. Pate and scored on a sacrifice fly to right by T. King, stretching the lead to 3-0.

Kennesaw State answered in the top of the fifth. Charlie Jones homered down the right-field line to cut the deficit to 3-1. The Owls then capitalized on two wild pitches by Bryans and an error to take the lead. After a single by McDuffie and a walk, a wild pitch allowed Gibbs to score from third. Another wild plated McDuffie, and a single by Lyons drove in Cole, giving Kennesaw State a 4-3 advantage. All three runs in the inning were unearned.

The lead was short-lived. In the bottom of the sixth, Jacksonville State tied the game. Ashe singled, and after a pitching change, Thomas doubled to put runners at second and third. L. Williams grounded out to second, scoring Ashe to make it 4-4.

The decisive moment came in the bottom of the seventh. Cash walked, advanced to second on a groundout, and scored when Johnson doubled down the right-field line to give Jacksonville State a 5-4 lead. Johnson’s hit came off Kennesaw State reliever Cooper McMullen, who had entered after a brief appearance by JT Gibson.

Kennesaw State threatened in the eighth and ninth but could not push across the tying run. After Bryans departed following seven innings, Jud Files faced one batter and walked Lyons before giving way to Skyler Hutto. Hutto struck out three over 1 2/3 scoreless innings to earn the save. Peter Jezerinac struck out four in 1 1/3 scoreless innings for the Owls, but the offense could not solve Hutto.

Kennesaw State managed only five hits in the game. Jacksonville State had eight. Thomas finished 2 for 3 with a home run and two RBIs. Johnson went 1 for 4 with the game-winning RBI. Cain took a no-decision despite allowing zero hits over five innings, but he walked five and allowed four earned runs, an unusual line that included a pair of wild pitches and a hit batter.

The game featured three runs that were unearned due to a fielding error and two wild pitches, highlighting the Owls’ inability to capitalize fully on their opportunities. Jacksonville State’s bullpen of Hutto and Files combined for two scoreless innings with three strikeouts.

The victory kept Jacksonville State on track for a strong postseason push. Kennesaw State, which had won four of its previous five games, saw its modest streak snapped.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Jacksonville State 7, Kennesaw State 6, with the Gamecocks holding a 56.60 percent win probability according to its ELO system.