RICHMOND, Ky. – Jacksonville State matched a program record for home runs in a game with eighth and broke JSU's NCAA Division I mark in an 18-3 rout of Eastern Kentucky on Thursday night at Earle Combs Stadium.

Seven different Gamecocks collected home runs on a blustery day on Turkey Hughes Field, while junior Alex Webb belted a pair of home runs in the contest.  Jax State matched a 42-year old record as the last time it had eight home runs in a contest was in the Gulf South Conference Championship game against Nicholls State in 1977.  The game was played at University Field, what is now the JSU softball complex.  The eight home runs surpasses the Division I mark, which was established twice at Morehead State during the 2010 campaign.

Jax State moved into sole possession of first place in the Ohio Valley Conference standings after Belmont downed Murray State in Nashville on Thursday.  JSU improved to 20-16 overall and 11-5 in the OVC.  The Colonels fell to 22-16 on the season and 9-7 in league play.  The two teams continue the series on Friday afternoon with a 1 p.m. EST/12 CST start time.  The game was moved up to avoid weather concerns.

Senior Nic Gaddis started the home run trots with a two-run home run in the first inning.  Webb, who finished the night 4-for-5 with four RBI, delivered a solo shot to the batter's eye to start the scoring in JSU's five-run third inning.  Webb was a triple shy of hitting for the cycle with a single in his first plate appearance and a double in the sixth after connecting on his second home run of the night in the fifth.  He drove in three more runs with his fifth home run of the season.

Junior Chase Robinson, who also had four RBI in the opening game of the series, belted a three-run home run in the JSU fourth inning.  Robinson's first RBI was a ground ball out that scored a run in the third.  Freshman Carson Crowe added a second home run in the third inning with a two-run shot over the right field wall.  Redshirt freshman Nash Adams posted a solo home run in the sixth inning, followed by a lead off home run by sophomore Isaac Alexander to start the seventh.  His solo round tripper matched JSU's NCAA Division I record.

Sophomore Alex Strachan capped off the high-octane offensive night with a pinch-hit towering solo home run off the left field foul pole.

When the numbers were totaled up, JSU posted a season-high 18 runs on 15 hits, which matches a season-best.  The Gamecocks had 15 hits in back-to-back games two weekends ago at Southeast Missouri.

With the run support, redshirt junior Garrett Farmer cruised along for six innings, keeping EKU off the scoreboard.  Farmer was effective with six strikeouts and scattering six hits.  The two runs he allowed came off a home run by Nick Howie.  Farmer moved to 4-0 on the season. The home run was the first allowed by the JSU pitching staff in OVC-only games since March 31 against Tennessee Tech and the first runs scored by an opponent in the opening games of a series in the last 15.1 innings pitched.  Jax State blanked Belmont, 9-0, last Friday night.

Freshman Michael Gilliland tossed the final three frames and was touched for a run on three hits.  He added three strikeouts and pitched three effective innings for the save.

Friday's contest will be available on the Gamecock Sports Network.