FINAL STATS

JACKSONVILLE – Southeast Missouri State took advantage of five Jacksonville State errors and scored four unearned runs in the fifth inning as the Redhawks claimed a 5-3 win over the Gamecocks in the opening game of a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series on Friday.
 
Shae Simmons (4-4) scattered seven hits and allowed just three hits to earn the win for the Redhawks, while Christian Hull allowed just two hits over the final four innings to earn his first save of the year. JSU's Aaron Elias (2-6) was the tough luck loser after allowing just one earned run in 6 2/3 innings to suffer the loss.
 
The Redhawks (17-30, 8-11 OVC) took an early 1-0 lead after Kenton Parmely had a RBI double in the first inning, but the Gamecocks answered in the home half of the inning.
 
Kyle Stone led off with a single to right field and Sam Eberle followed with a one-out walk.  Ben Waldrip then drove in run with a RBI single to right field to score Stone. Kyle Bluestein followed with a sacrifice fly to centerfield that scored Eberle to give the Gamecocks a 2-1 lead.
 
Jax State (20-24, 12-7) added a run in the second inning on a bases loaded walk by Eberle as the Gamecocks extended the lead to 3-1, before the Redhawks answered three innings later.
 
Southeast then plated four runs in the fifth inning – all unearned – on just two hits and three Gamecock errors. Cole Bieser scored on an error to cut the lead to 3-2.
 
Derek Gibson then tied the game with a RBI double to left center, before Kody Campbell's single to the left field fence scored two more runs for the final margin.
 
Andy Lennington and Gibson each had a pair of hits to lead the Redhawks, while Eberle, Bluestein and Coty Blanchard each had two hits to lead the Gamecocks.
 
The two teams will play the second game of the three-game series on Saturday. Game time is set for 2 p.m. at Rudy Abbott Field.