Box Score JACKSONVILLE, Ala.  – The Northwestern State pitching staff opened the sixth inning with two-straight walks, and Jacksonville State capitalized when on fielder's choice that scored Andre Bishop from third base in the sixth inning to give the Gamecocks a 5-4 win Saturday afternoon. 
 
Bishop and Tyler Gamble drew two 3-1 walks from NSU (0-2) pitcher Hunter Duvic. After Pey Williams put down sacrifice bunt that advanced Bishop and Gamble, Joey Parrack replaced Duvic on the hill. Jacksonville State improved to 2-0 on the year.  
 
"We have to get better starting pitching and we are walking too many guys," said second year head coach Lane Burroughs. "Leadoff walks and two out walks are killing us."
 
Gavin Golsan reached on a fielder's choice that scored Bishop from third base.  Parrack struck out Griff Gordon and Dan Gaither to end the inning.
 
"Joey Parrack pitched out of a huge jam," said Burroughs.  "He had two big punch outs with the bases loaded.  That was very encouraging."
 
Cody Butler started the game for NSU and went 3.2 innings.  He allowed three runs on five hits with a walk in the game.  Duvic (0-1) took the loss on 1.2 innings pitched and allowed two runs on two hits and three walks. Parrack went on to pitch 1.1 innings and allowed only one hit to go with his two punch outs.
 
JSU opened the game with a run in the first inning on a home run to right field from Griff.  The Demons answered in the bottom of the third inning one a run from Regan Kaufman on a throwing error and another run from Bret Underwood after a bases loaded hit-by-pitch to Cort Brinson.
 
Kaufman singled down the right field line to score C.J. Webster to make the score 3-1 in the fourth inning. After two runs from the Gamecocks in the bottom of that frame, NSU answered to break the 3-3 tie with a run in the fifth inning on a Caleb Dugas double down the left field line to score Brinson from second base.
 
Jacksonville State tied it again in the bottom of the fifth inning on a Griff single to left field.  Golsan scored from second base after he stole second on a failed pickoff attempt.
 
"The difference in the game was we rollover to a drawn infield with a runner at third base and one out," said Burroughs. "They got the big hits and we didn't.  We also had two men out at home and did not finish the play."
 
The Demons had a chance at the top of the sixth inning to regain control when Edwin Gomez tripled down to right field with one out.  Nathan Lyons hit a grounder to the Ryan Sebra at third base who was drawn in to protect the plate.
 
Gomez was 1-of-2 with two sacrifice hits and Kaufman was 1-of-2 with two walks and a run scored and knocked in.
 
Brinson, Dugas, and Joel Atkinson were all 1-of-4.  Brinson had a run scored and knocked in and Dugas finished with an RBI.
 
"Our guys are competing and playing hard, but we have to put teams away and not sit on leads," said Burroughs. "We also need to pitch with a lead.  That's all part of the process on learning how to win.  We'll get there."
 
The Demons and Gamecocks will finish the series at 1 o'clock on Sunday.   NSU will return home for a midweek game against Louisina-Lafayette on Wednesday.