MOREHEAD, Ky. – Jacksonville State senior Clayton Daniel took ownership of JSU's all-time career doubles mark and moved in to second place all-time in career hits in the Ohio Valley Conference in JSU's loss at Morehead State on Sunday.
A pair of Gamecocks now rank 1-2 on the league's career hits chart as former Gamecock Bert Smith is the OVC's all-time leader in career hits with 323 and Daniel slid in to the No. 2 spot on the chart in JSU's 24-12 loss to the Eagles in the rubber game of the series. Daniel, with 308 career hits, now stands 16 hits shy of surpassing Smith's hits total.
The Guntersville, Alabama infielder collected six doubles in the three-game set with MSU to surpass former Gamecock Sam Eberle's mark of 62 doubles in a career. Eberle played at JSU from 2009-12. Daniel is near the top spot on the OVC's career double mark as Southeast Missouri's Jeremy Johnson has held the record of 65 career doubles since the 2000 baseball campaign. He posted three doubles on the day and has accumulated 64 career doubles.
Daniel finished 4-for-6 on the day and finished the weekend 8-for-14 and reached base 20 times.
JSU dropped to 24-20 overall and 13-11 in the OVC after the setback on Sunday. After falling to the Gamecocks on Saturday to even the series, MSU improved to 30-19 on the season and 16-8 against league foes.
MSU broke up a 1-1 deadlock with 23 runs over the next seven innings, including a five-run third and followed with a six-run fourth to break the game open. The Eagles, who enjoy playing in the scoring-friendly confines of Allen Field collected 24 total hits off Gamecock pitching. Jax State also aided the Eagles with four miscues.
Jax State's bats came alive as well with 17 total hits, including six extra bases. The Gamecocks tallied four home runs on the day, led by freshman Cole Frederick's three solo home runs. The Tuscaloosa, Alabama native entered the weekend with two home runs on the season. JSU turned in back-to-back five-run frames in the seventh and eighth and Frederick's third home run of the day to open the ninth.
Daniel and Frederick were two of six Gamecocks with multiple hits. Junior Nic Gaddis, sophomore Andrew Naismith, senior Trent Simpson and sophomore Chase Robinson all had two hits each. Robinson hit his second home run on the weekend in the contest and the second of the season for the outfielder from Pell City, Alabama.
The Gamecocks will have a busy week with a second trip to Tuscaloosa on Tuesday against Alabama. JSU will attempt to sweep the two-game season series with the Crimson Tide after blanking UA, 4-0, on April 4. JSU swept UA last season and will vie for its fourth consecutive win over the Crimson Tide. Following the Tuesday's road trip, JSU will host Samford at Choccolocco Park. First pitch against the Bulldogs is set for 6:30 p.m.
JSU returns to Choccolocco Park next weekend for its final OVC home series against UT Martin. Due to the Oxford, Alabama facility hosting the 2018 OVC Softball Tournament, the series will begin on Friday at 6:30 p.m. The series will continue on Saturday at 3 p.m. Sunday's finale will be at 1 p.m. JSU will honor its senior class prior to Saturday's contest with the Skyhawks.
