JACKSON – Jaylyn Williams three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning propelled Jackson State past UW-Milwaukee 7-5 in the series opener between the two programs.
 
The Panthers (3-1) pushed across a pair of runs in the top of the first inning and led 2-0 until the Tigers' (2-3) part of the fifth inning.
 
Senior Raul Hernandez's RBI single to left field put the Tigers on the board. Fellow senior Dezmond Chumley followed that up with a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 2-2. Williams home run added to JSU's lead.
 
In the sixth inning Hernandez added his second RBI single of the game and junior Chandler Dillard came through with an RBI in JSU's part of the seventh.
 
Junior Wesley Reyes batted 3-for-4 with a run scored and drew one walk.
 
JSU also out-hit UWM 12-8.
 
Anthony Becerra (1-1) picked up his first win of the season. The Las Vegas native tossed five and two-thirds and scattered six hits, allowed four runs (three earned) and four walks and fanned seven batters.
 
The two teams return to the diamond Sunday at 10 a.m. to pick up the second game of Saturday's doubleheader, which will begin in the third inning.