RICHMOND, Ky. – Jacksonville State freshman Clayton Daniel drove in a career high three RBI to lead the Gamecocks to their fourth consecutive Ohio Valley Conference win  after topping Eastern Kentucky 7-5 on Friday night at Turkey Hughes Field.

The win pushed Jax State to 11-11 in OVC play and inched closer to one of the top-six in the conference standings.  The Gamecocks moved to 24-21 overall, while EKU dropped to 17-25 on the season and 8-13 in league play.

Daniel, from Guntersville, Alabama, collected a team-best three hits, including a pair of RBI doubles in the first game of the three-game series.  The second baseman had a key two-out double in the fifth to drive in the go-ahead runs and give JSU a lead that it would not relinquish the rest of the way.  Daniel drove in his third run of the game in the ninth to give Jax State a two-run cushion heading in to EKU's final at bat.  It was another clutch two-out at bat for Daniel as he singled through the right side of the infield, scoring Gavin Golson.

 After trailing 3-0 in through the first three innings, the Gamecocks rallied in the fourth with three runs to equalize the contest.  Golsan and Daniel were issued back-to-back walks by EKU's starter, Alex Hamilton, junior Paschal Petrongolo belted an RBI double down the left field line to dive in JSU's first run of the contest.  Senior Ryan Sebra produced an RBI with a sacrifice fly for the second run of the inning.  Junior Elliot McCummings followed with a two-out triple to drive in the tying run.

EKU manufactured a run in the sixth to cut the lead to 5-4 after a Logan Starnes single off of Jax State's Zachary Fowler.  Fowler turned in another solid outing in OVC play as he went six innings and gave up eight hits to the Colonels and the four runs.  Fowler earned the win and moved to 7-2 on the season and improved to 5-1 against OVC foes.  The JSU bullpen staved off a couple of EKU threats the rest of the way, limiting the Maroon and White to just one run in the seventh after having a pair in scoring position.  JSU's Joe McGuire induced a pair of infield pop ups to end the threat in the seventh.

Senior Travis Stout finished off the contest to earn his 10^th save of the season.

The two teams will return to action on Saturday at 3 p.m. CST for game two of the series.  Freshman Jake Walsh is expected to get the ball for the Gamecocks.  The game will be available on the Gamecock Sports Network with air time at 2:45 p.m.