OXFORD – Jacksonville State evened the series with Eastern Kentucky with a 6-1 win on Saturday at Choccolocco Park.
JSU improved to 23-16 on the season and moved to 12-8 in OVC play, while EKU dropped to 23-21 overall and 12-8 in the conference. After the Colonels claimed the series opener on Friday, the two clubs will have a rubber game on Sunday to decide the series. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Choccolocco Park. Admission is free for all JSU students and all fans 18 years old and younger. The third game of the weekend will also be available on the OVC Digital Network and the Gamecock Sports Network.
JSU scored all six runs in two innings and broke up a scoreless deadlock with a two-out RBI single by senior Clayton Daniel in the sixth. Jax State plated five unearned runs in the seventh after back-to-back miscues by the EKU infield opened the door for a big inning.
Daniel's base hit in the sixth was the 297th of his career, which moved him in to a tie for fourth place all-time in the OVC for hits in a career. He joined former Eastern Illinois standout Caleb Howell (2012-15.). The hit scored senior Hayden White, who started the sixth inning with a double down the left field line.
A misplayed pop up at first base and another miscue on the right side of the diamond with two outs started the big inning for JSU. Senior Trent Simpson, who closed out the final, 1.1 innings on the mound, reached on a dropped pop up, followed by sophomore Andrew Naismith's misplayed ground ball set the run-scoring chance for the Gamecocks. Freshman Alex Strachan started a string of three consecutive RBI singles, while the final run scored on an EKU wild pitch. Two runs crossed the plate on Strachan's hit as the third EKU error allowed a second run to score on the play.
Freshman Cole Frederick, who joined White with multiple hits in the contest, had an RBI single, followed by a pinch hit base hit by sophomore Chase Robinson.
After being touched for 11 runs in the opener on Friday, JSU's pitchers were able to pitch out of tough situations throughout the game and keep EKU off the scoreboard. Junior Derrick Adams did not figure in to the decision, but went 5.2 innings and posted five strikeouts in the outing. Freshman Christian Edwards, who came in relief in the sixth and turned in his third win of the season, pitched the next two innings before handing it over to Simpson.
As a staff, the Gamecock arms allowed four hits by the Colonels and the lone run in the eighth. EKU broke up the shutout after a hit by a pitch with the bases loaded plated the run. EKU stranded 14 on the base paths.
JSU will send senior Colton Pate to the mound on Sunday, while EKU has not announced its starting pitcher.
