EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Jacksonville State rallied for four runs with two outs in the ninth to claim a 9-7 Ohio Valley Conference opener and set the tone for a 13-4 win in the nightcap to sweep a conference twinbill over SIU Edwardsville on Friday at the Simmons Baseball Complex.

The pair of wins assured the Gamecocks (8-5) of a conference-opening series win for the 12^th time in the last 13 seasons since joining the OVC.  The Cougars dropped to 0-11 on the season with the two losses.  The Gamecocks will go for the series sweep on Saturday with a 1 p.m. series finale.

Down to its last out and trailing 7-5, Jax State strung together four hits to push four runs across the plate and erase a two-run deficit and take a 9-7 lead into SIUE's last at bat.  Pinch hitter and redshirt freshman Austin Green delivered the clutch two-out hit to drive in the tying and go-ahead run.  Sophomore Taylor Hawthorne laid down a bunt single down third base, pushing Hayden White across the dish to pad JSU's lead at 9-7.  The two-run cushion would be enough for redshirt sophomore Justin Hoyt to collect his third save of the season.

Senior Tyler Gamble started the scoring for JSU with a home run to left field in the second inning.  The Cougars would answer with five runs over the next two innings to take a 5-1 lead heading into the fourth.  JSU trimmed the lead to 5-4 in the fourth as Josh Bobo carded a two RBI double to left.  Gamble also had a double in the frame and scored White's single to left field.  Gamble finished the opener 2-for-3 with an RBI and scored three times.

SIUE extended the lead to 6-4 with a run in the fifth and after JSU scored a run in its half of the seventh, the Cougars held a 7-5 lead heading into the late innings.  SIUE touched JSU starter Graham Officer for five of the seven runs off seven hits, but the Gamecocks' bullpen slowed the Cougar offense with just four hits allowed in the final six innings.  Derrick Adams was credited with the win after tossing the eighth inning.

Gamble, Paschal Petrongolo, Clayton Daniel and Bobo all had multiple hit games in the first game.

With momentum gained from JSU's 9-7 come-from-behind win, the Gamecocks started the nightcap strong and opened up and 11-0 lead through five innings en route to the 13-4 win.  JSU struck for three runs in the first and third innings before putting a four-spot on the board in the fifth to break open the game.  Over a span of six innings going back to the ninth inning of the opener, JSU produced 15 runs against SIUE pitching.

Staked to a big lead, sophomore Jack Pierce turned in a career night on the mound.  The Pelham, Alabama left went a career-long 7.0 innings and struck out seven Cougars in the outing.  After SIUE manufactured a run in the second, Pierce retired the next 12 Cougars.  Pierce scattered three hits and allowed three walks.

Pierce's battery mate, White made his job easy after White's 4-for-5 contest at the plate, including a three-run blast to centerfield in the first inning.  The Prattville, Alabama catcher also drove in a pair of runs. 

JSU matched its best single game hitting total with 18 hits and driving in 12 RBI in the second game.  Daniel had a stellar second game with three hits and two RBI.  On Friday, Daniel was 5-for-8 at the plate.  Hawthorne plated three runs on a pair of hits, including his first career triple.  Junior outfielder Peyton Williams connected on his first home run of the season and the second of his career with a solo round tripper in the ninth.  Senior Elliot McCummings added two hits in the game.

Sunday's game can be heard on the Gamecock Sports Network.