BOX SCORE

JACKSONVILLE – Drew Ferguson and Matt Beaty each had to hits to lead Belmont to a 3-0 win over Jacksonville State in the opening game of a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series at Rudy Abbott Field on Friday afternoon.
 
Belmont improves to 31-13 overall and 17-5 in the OVC and moves into a tie with the Gamecocks, who drop to 26-20 and 17-5 in the league. Both teams trail league-leading Tennessee Tech's record of 19-5 in conference play.
 
Dan Ludwig (10-1) allowed just four hits and had four strikeouts over 7 1/3 innings to tie the Belmont single-season school record with 10 wins. Josh Davis recorded the final three outs to pick up his 11th save of the season for the Bruins. JSU's Casey Antely (4-4) allowed just two hits and one earned run with five strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings, but was the tough luck loser in the game.
 
Belmont broke the scoreless game in the sixth inning after Ferguson led off with a double and moved to third on a Gamecock throwing error, that allowed Alex Diamond to reach first. Jared Breen then laid down a bunt to score Ferguson and give the Bruins a 1-0 lead.
 
Belmont added another run after Beaty singled through the right side just out of reach of Gamecock first baseman Adam Miller to give the Bruins a 2-0 lead.
 
In the seventh, Ferguson hit a RBI triple to right center to score Scott Moses after a leadoff walk for the final margin. The Bruins had only four hits vs the Jax State pitching staff.
 
The Gamecocks had runners on base in seven of the nine innings, but Belmont turned double plays in the first, sixth and seventh innings to end any JSU scoring threats.
 
Miller led Jax State with a pair of hits, while Coty Blanchard extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a single in the ninth inning. It marks the longest active streak in the Ohio Valley Conference and he has reached base in 23 straight games.
 
The two teams will play the middle game of the series on Saturday at 2 p.m., weather permitting. JSU's Taylor Shields (6-2, 3.53 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Gamecocks, while preseason OVC Pitcher of the Year Chase Brookshire (3-1, 1.15 ERA) is expected to take the mound for the Bruins.
 
Any schedule changes will be posted on JSUGamecockSports.com and on twitter (@JSUGamecocks) for the remainder of the weekend.