JACKSONVILLE – Alabama State erased a five-run deficit and held off a late Jacksonville State charge to claim an 8-7 decision on Wednesday night at Rudy Abbott Field.

With the win, the Hornets took all three meetings with the Gamecocks this season after claiming a par of wins earlier in the season in Montgomery.  JSU fell to 19-16 overall and split its pair of midweek contests before trekking to Cape Girardeau, Missouri for a key Ohio Valley Conference weekend series with conference frontrunner Southeast Missouri, beginning on Friday evening at 6:30 p.m.

JSU broke a 1-1 deadlock in the fourth inning with five runs off of ASU starter, Tyler Howe.  Back-to-back doubles by sophomore Josh Bobo and freshman Hayden White started the frame.  White's two-bagger to deep centerfield scored Bobo give JSU its first lead of the contest.  Bobo, from Attalla, Alabama had a solid midweek at the dish going a 6-for-7 in the contests against Kennesaw State on Tuesday and ASU on Wednesday.  After going 4-for-4 at KSU, Bobo collected a pair of hits against the Hornets.

After one out in the inning, freshman Taylor Hawthorne beat out an infield single to score White.  Junior Paschal Petrongolo doubled down the right field line to drive in the fourth run of the inning.  Junior Tyler Gamble picked up an RBI on a sacrifice fly to center, plating Petrongolo.  Petrongolo went 3-for-3, including a pair of walks in the setback.

The Hornets responded in the fifth and sixth as they would trim the lead to 6-4 with three runs in the fifth.  Back-to-back singles by P.J. Biocic and Chris Biocic scored the three runs in the fifth.  Chris Biocic plated two of the three runs off of JSU's Jesse Fry, the first of six Gamecock pitchers to see action on the hill in the contest.

ASU's Ray Hernandez delivered the big blow in the sixth with a three-run home run to left field.  After a one-out walk by JSU's Graham Officer to Gustavo Rios and a hit by a pitch by Officer, Hernandez belted his first home run of the season.

ASU would use most of its bullpen to styme the Gamecock offense the rest of the way.  JSU's who had just eight hits on the night, left 13 men on base and went 6-for-25 with runners in scoring position.  The Hornets' pitching staff turned in 14 strikeouts in the win.  Patrick Coffin earned his second win of the season, while Officer suffered the loss.

ASU added an unearned insurance run in the eighth and it proved to be the difference in the game.  Jax State answered with a run in the home half as senior Ryan Sebra had a single to plate Gavin Golsan, who led off the inning with a walk.

ASU closer Armando Ruiz ran in to some trouble in the final JSU at bat as he walked a pair to put the tying run in scoring position with two down in the frame. 

All three games at SEMO's Capaha Park will be available on the Gamecock Sports Network.  Friday's game one of the three-game series will be available on the OVC Digital Network.