PHOTO GALLERY

JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville State exploded for nine runs over four innings to erase a 3-0 deficit to post its second consecutive win on opening day with a 9-3 decision over Valparaiso.

The Gamecocks (1-0) topped Northwestern State in 2015 and Youngstown State last season.  JSU extended its lead in the series with the Crusaders (0-1) to 5-1 all time and 3-1 under head coach Jim Case.   The two clubs will face each other in game two of the weekend series on Saturday at Rudy Abbott Field.  First pitch is set for 1 p.m.

On a gorgeous day to start the 2016 campaign, the Gamecocks fell behind 3-0 in the third inning as Valpo plated three runs off of JSU senior Graham Officer.  Valpo's Daniel Delaney drove in a pair of runs in the frame with a two-out single up the middle to give his club a 3-0 lead.  That two-RBI single, which was the fifth of the inning, would be the final one by Valpo as the JSU pitching staff limited the Crusader's to just three hits in the final six innings.

JSU took advantage of five Crusader miscues throughout the game and connected on timely hits against Valpo's pitching unit.  After being handed a 3-0 lead, Valpo's Dalton Lundeen (0-1) could not hold the lead as back-to-back walks given to Clayton Daniel and Paschal Petrongolo, Jax State scored its first run on the season on a Tyler Gamble single up the middle, scoring Clayton.  The Crusaders mishandled the throw from the outfield, allowing Petrongolo and Gamble to move in to scoring position.  Lundeen balked during Paul Angel's at bat to score Petrongolo.  Senior Elliot McCummings drove in the tying run on a put out by the pitcher.  The Gamecocks erased the lead on redshirt freshman Austin Green's single to right field.  The singles was his first career hit in a Gamecock uniform.  It was his second straight at bat to reach base after he reached via an error in his first plate appearance.  Green turned in a 2-for-4 day at the plate and turned in a solid defensive effort at third base.

Officer (1-0) tossed his final complete inning with a clean fourth inning of work before he was lifted with two outs in the fifth as JSU was protecting a 5-3 lead after it pushed another run across the dish in the fourth.  Daniel laced a single to right field to send Golsan home.  Golsan led off the inning with a single and then stole one of his two stolen bases.  Daniel has now reached base in 23 consecutive games dating back to last 22 games of his freshman campaign.  Golsan and Daniel, the top-two hitters in the Gamecocks' line up combined for four hits and scored five of the nine runs.  Sophomore Hayden White also finished with a pair of hits.
Case went to freshman left hander Derrick Adams in relief of Officer and escaped damage in the fifth as the Decatur, Alabama native induced a ground ball to third that was fielded nicely by Green to end the Crusaders' threat.  Adams rans in to trouble in the sixth as Valpo loaded the bases for the second consecutive frame.  Sophomore Grant Chandler was inserted with one out in the inning and struck out back-to-back Crusaders for two of his career-high five strikeouts. 
Chandler completed the final 3.2 innings and allowed just one hit in his initial outing of the 2016 season.  Chandler recorded his first career save after entering the contest with the tying run on base and finishing out the game.  His previous career high in strike outs was four against SIU Edwardsville last year.

Behind the stellar work by Chandler on the mound, JSU extended the lead to 9-3 with a three-run sixth inning that was highlighted by four JSU base hits.  JSU opened the inning with three straight hits, coupled with Valpo's fifth error on a ball off the bat of Petrongolo as a pair of runs scored on the play.

Saturday's 1 p.m. contest will be available on the Gamecock Sports Network with Seth Cain filling in for Mike Parris.