JACKSONVILLE, Ala. (Interstat) — In a tense pitchers’ duel that defied pregame projections, the Jacksonville State Gamecocks rallied with single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to edge the Valparaiso Beacons 3-2 on Friday night at Rudy Abbott Field.

The victory improved Jacksonville State’s record to 11-3, while Valparaiso fell to 5-6. The game, characterized by dominant pitching and timely hitting, was a stark contrast to the offensive output predicted by Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast a 7-5 Jacksonville State win.

Valparaiso struck quickly against Jacksonville State starter Eli Pillsbury in the first inning. Leadoff batter Eli Riley was hit by a pitch, advanced to third on a Javin Gauthier single, and scored on Brayden Pleau’s sacrifice fly to right field. The early run gave the Beacons a lead they would cling to for much of the game, despite managing only five hits.

Pillsbury, however, settled in spectacularly after the first. The right-hander overpowered Valparaiso’s lineup, racking up 10 strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings while allowing just three hits and one earned run. His performance continued a dominant stretch, coming off a 5 1/3-inning, no-hit outing against Memphis on Feb. 27.

He was matched nearly pitch-for-pitch by Valparaiso’s Adam Guazzo, who started and threw three perfect innings, striking out three. Spencer Boynton followed with 2 2/3 scoreless frames before the Gamecocks’ offense finally broke through in the sixth.

The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the bottom of the sixth inning, erasing Valparaiso’s slim advantage. Cooper Blauser led off with a single and was sacrificed to second. Grayson Ashe then delivered a crucial double to left field, scoring Blauser to cut the deficit to 2-1. After a Matthew Cash single, a wild pitch from Boynton allowed Ashe to race home with the tying run.

Jacksonville State completed the comeback in the seventh against reliever Ryan Kruse. Jaxon Pate walked, stole second, and scored the decisive run on a two-out RBI single to left field by Brady Thomas, giving the Gamecocks their first lead at 3-2.

Valparaiso had briefly regained the lead in the top of the seventh. Thomas Cooper doubled and later scored on an RBI single from Cole Lockwood, making it 2-1. That advantage was short-lived, however, as the Gamecocks answered immediately in their half of the frame.

Skyler Hutto earned the win in relief for Jacksonville State, pitching 3 1/3 innings and allowing one run on two hits while striking out four. The Gamecocks’ bullpen combined to hold Valparaiso to just two hits over the final 3 1/3 innings.

Justin Bultemeier and Ryan Kruse were charged with the loss and a blown save, respectively, for Valparaiso. Ashe finished 2 for 4 with an RBI for Jacksonville State, while Blauser also had two hits. Lockwood drove in both Valparaiso runs.

The two teams are scheduled for a doubleheader on Saturday to conclude the series.