4-Seed Little Rock One Win From Supers After Victory Over Jax State

As the Hattiesburg Regional moved to the 1-0 game, all eyes were on 3-seed Jax State and 4-Seed Little Rock to see who would be one win away from a Super Regional bid. Little Rock came out to an early lead and never looked back, ultimately defeating Jax State 8-6 and forcing them into a rematch with 2-seeded Virginia.

Little Rock would put up three runs in the top of the first off of singles by Blake Simpson and Nico Baumbach, as well as a groundout by Ty Rhoades. Nolan Freund would add to the scoring on a ground rule double after a softly hit ball to left bounced into the bullpen and batting cage area down the third base line. A Brady Thomas home run would get Jax State on the board in the bottom of the second, and a Matthew Cash double would make the score 4-2 in favor of Little Rock after the first third.

Thomas would drive in another run for Jax State in the bottom of the fourth on a double through the middle to get Jax State within one. In the sixth, a Freund groundout and a Simpson triple, his first of the year, would swing the lead further into Little Rock's favor, and with a third of the game remaining, Jax State looked to make up a three run deficit.

A Trey King single would get a run back for the Gamecocks, but the Trojans would quickly answer and then some off a Baumbach double that drove in two runs. A Cash single and Jaxon Pate sac fly in the eighth would bring a little life to Jax State, but it wouldn't be enough as Little Rock would take the win 6-8

Jax State head coach Steve Beiser talked about his team's ability to flush losses. ""This team hasn't lost more than two games in a row all year, so I don't think they let anything affect them. [...] We're going to go to bed, and we're doing to turn the page."

"So very proud of this program and this team to be in a Regional final yet again. It's a god place to be. We were there last year, and we're there again, so proud of these guys." Little Rock head coach Chris Curry highlighted. Little Rock forced a game seven against LSU in last year's regional out of the loser's bracket.

Jax State will face Virginia at 3pm CT on Sunday. The winner of that game will face Little Rock in the game one of the Regional final at 8pm CT.