RICHMOND, Ky. – For the second straight game, sophomore Nic Gaddis delivered the big hit for Jacksonville State as his ninth inning pinch-hit single scored two runs in JSU's 5-4 come-from-behind win over Eastern Kentucky to clinch the series on Saturday at Turkey Hughes Field.

It took a while to play the last inning as the contest was delayed right before the start of the ninth due to lightning in the area.  The one hour, 35 minute delay did not deter the Gamecocks as they entered their final plate appearance down 4-3 after the Colonels broke up a 3-3 gridlock with a solo home run to start the home half of the eighth by Alex Holderbach.

JSU started the ninth with back-to-back singles by Andrew Naismith and Josh Bobo.  After Chase Robinson moved both runners in scoring position, Gaddis delivered the game-winning hit.  On Friday night, it was his two-run home run that lifted the Gamecocks to the win in the opener.

The Gamecocks moved back to .500 in the Ohio Valley Conference with the win and improved to 22-18 overall.  The loss drops the Colonels to 21-22 on the season and 7-13 in the league.  JSU will be looking for its first OVC weekend series sweep of the season on Sunday.  First pitch is set for 12 p.m. CST.

JSU played catch up throughout the day until taking the lead in the ninth.  The Colonels pushed across two runs in the first against Jax State starter Colton Pate. After allowing the two runs in the opening frame, Pate settled in for the next five innings before exiting in the seventh.  The Lincoln, Alabama right hander allowed three EKU runs, but only one of the trio of runs was earned.  He fanned nine Colonels and issued two free passes.

Jax State manufactured a two-run fourth, which was started by junior Clayton Daniel's leadoff double.  Junior Trent Simpson had the second double of the frame, scoring Daniel.  Naismith collected a two-out RBI with a single through the right side.  Simpson would add his second RBI of the day in the eighth with a ground ball out to the right side of diamond. Daniel led the Gamecocks at the dish with a three hits, while Simpson, Nolan Greckel and Naismith had multiple hits in the contest.

Senior Nate Sylvester finished off the eighth inning after the leadoff home run, tallied his first win of the season, while redshirt junior Justin Hoyt added his second save of the series and fifth of the season.  Hoyt worked around a leadoff single by EKU to end the contest with two strikeouts.

Sunday's series finale will be available on the Gamecock Sports Network.  JSU will send senior Joe McGuire to the mound.