EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Jacksonville State senior Clayton Daniel established himself as JSU's and the Ohio Valley Conference's all-time career hits leader with two hits in the Gamecocks' 11-9 win over SIU Edwardsville in extra innings on Saturday afternoon at the Simmons Baseball Complex.

Daniel entered the regular season finale needing two hits to become JSU's all-time career hits leader and the OVC's leader in hits for a career.  The Guntersville, Alabama infield matched the record, held by former JSU standout Bert Smith, who collected 323 career hits from 2006-2010, with a single up the middle in his second at bat.  He beat out an infield single in the fifth to break Smith's mark. 

His hit in the second inning came after freshman Cole Frederick put the Gamecocks on the scoreboard with a three-run home run, plating the two walks that was issued ahead of Frederick.  Daniel scored after reaching in the fifth on Nic Gaddis' fielders choice to extend the lead to 4-0.  Daniel added an RBI with a sacrifice fly in the sixth.
 

You are looking at the new @JSUBB and @OVCSports career hits king Clayton Daniel with his second hit of the day, he now owns the record with 324 career hits! @NCAACWS pic.twitter.com/tGYH3aGi0I

— JSU Baseball (@JSUBB) May 19, 2018

JSU put together a four-run seventh, which was highlighted by a solo home by senior Trent Simpson.  Senior Nolan Greckel, who finished with a pair of hits, had an RBI single, followed by a two-RBI double by Grant Atkins.

Here is video of Clayton Daniel's career hit 323, tying the @JSUBB and @OVCSports career hits record with former Gamecock Bert Smith pic.twitter.com/pgTgUESw7e

— JSU Baseball (@JSUBB) May 19, 2018

Simpson led JSU's 16-hit attack with four hits and the Oxford, Alabama native collected his eighth save of the season after recording the final two outs in the tenth.

SIUE erased a 9-2 deficit with seven runs combined in the seventh and eighth.  The Cougars plated five runs in the seventh and equalized with two runs in the eighth after an hour and 16 minute rain delay.
Junior NIc Gaddis, who went 8-for-16 on the weekend, capped off the three-game set with a two-run home run in the visiting half of the tenth to give the Gamecocks the lead.

Junior transfer Cody Willingham picked up his second win of the season after pitching the final out of the eighth and the ninth.

The win give JSU its 30th win of the season, which is the 15th time that has happened under Jim Case and it's the sixth consecutive 30-plus win season in a row for the program.  The Gamecocks finished fourth in the OVC with an 18-12 mark.

JSU will now turn its attention to the OVC Baseball Championship next week at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Alabama.  JSU will start its run in the eight-team tournament on Wednesday at 9 a.m. against Austin Peay.