FINAL STATS

JACKSONVILLE – Erik Underwood had three hits and drove in three runs to lead Jacksonville State to a 5-2 win over Tennessee Tech in the first of a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series on Thursday.
 
JSU's Travis Stout (4-1) scattered three hits in two solid innings on the mound to earn the win in relief. Todd Hornsby recorded the final five outs to earn his seventh save of the season. Tristian Archer  (3-2) got stuck with the loss after giving up all five runs for the Golden Eagles
 
Jax State (11-17, 5-2 OVC) took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning after Sam Eberle reached on a two-out single and moved to second after Ben Waldrip singled to center. Kyle Bluestein was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Underwood followed with a single down the left field line to score Eberle and Waldrip to give the Gamecocks the early lead.
 
Tennessee Tech (12-16, 4-3) got on the board in the fifth inning after Zephan Guyear led off with a solo home run and the Golden Eagles tied the game in the sixth inning after James Abraham tripled and then scored on a Gamecock throwing error to tie the game at 2-2.
 
Jax State answered in the home half of the sixth after Bluestein hit a two-out double and Underwood followed with a double up the middle to score Bluestein and give the Gamecocks a 3-2 lead.
 
Jacksonville State tacked on two insurance runs in the eighth inning on a RBI triple by Eberle and Waldrip followed with a sacrifice fly to score Waldrip for the final margin.
 
Underwood led the Gamecocks with three hits, while Eberle scored a pair of runs. Stephens had three hits and Abraham had a pair of hits for Tech.
 
The two teams will play the second game of the series on Friday at 6:30 p.m., before the series finale on Saturday at 2 p.m. at  Rudy Abbott Field.