OXFORD – Troy scored eight runs in the first three innings en route to a 10-5 win over Jacksonville State on Wednesday night at Choccolocco Park.

With the setback, the Gamecocks fall to 18-16 overall and will now turn their attention to an important Ohio Valley Conference weekend against Belmont at Choccolocco Park.  The series begins on Friday, April 21 at 6 p.m.  The series will continue throughout the weekend with 1 p.m. start times on Saturday and Sunday.  The Trojans improved to 19-17 overall and will host the Gamecocks on May 3 at Riddle-Pace Field.

For the second night in a row, Jax State struggled on the mound as the Trojans accumulated 12 of their 15 total hits in the first three innings.  Freshman Cody Dodd, making his second start of the season, suffered the loss in the contest after going 2.1 innings and touched for seven runs on eight hits.  Redshirt freshman Tyler Wilburn was the first of four JSU arms out of the bullpen and settled things down against Troy with a season-high six strikeouts.  Wilburn led the pitching staff that struck out 13 Trojans.  Along with Dodd's three strike outs, Corley Woods had a pair of strike outs in two innings, while Justin Hoyt registered two in the ninth.

Troy's Max Newton, making his first career start, got off to a shaky start against JSU after the Gamecocks posted four of their five runs in the first inning.  JSU senior A.J. Reynolds had a game-tying RBI to start the scoring before Nic Gaddis tripled down the right field line, clearing the bases and then scored on a throwing error on the relay from the outfield.

The Trojans quickly began chipping away at the early deficit with a pair of runs in the second and took the lead in the third with a five-run inning.  Newton, pitching with a four-run cushion retired the next 13 Gamecocks before senior Josh Bobo's lead off single in the fifth snapped the string.  Newton collected the win with 5.0 innings of work, allowed five JSU hits and just two earned runs.

Jax State had an opportunity for a big inning in the sixth after the first two Gamecocks reached base via a Trojan error and a base hit by Joe McGuire.  Reynolds delivered his second RBI of the night with a single to right field.  JSU had the bases loaded with one out, but were unlucky with a line drive to first that doubled up the runner to end the threat.
Troy's bullpen was solid as it allowed just two JSU hits over the final four innings and carded five of the nine strike outs.

McGuire and Reynolds combined for four of JSU's seven hits on the night, while Gaddis and Reynolds had multiple RBI in the contest.  Troy's Justin Friend paced the visitor's line up with a 3-for-4 night and a pair of RBI.

Belmont will bring an overall record of 17-18 overall and 11-7 in the OVC and have won four conference series.  The Bruins won their lone midweek contest over Southern Illinois on Tuesday, 9-3.  Belmont will enter the weekend listed third in the OVC standings. 

All three games this weekend will be available on the Gamecock Sports Network, while the Friday and Saturday games will be stream online on the OVC Digital Network.  Tickets are available at JSUGamecockSports.com and all JSU students and fans 18 years old and younger get in free.