RICHMOND, Ky. –  The Jacksonville State baseball team dropped a 1-0 pitchers duel as Eastern Kentucky scored the lone run of the contest to take the opening game of the weekend series, 1-0, at Turkey Hughes Field on Friday night.

EKU's Santiago Peralta singled to left field to drive in the winning run with two outs for the Colonels' win. The win moved EKU to 11-21 overall and 6-10 in Ohio Valley Conference play. The loss drops Jax State to 15-16 on the season and 7-6 in conference action. The two clubs will wrap up the weekend series at 12 p.m. CST with a doubleheader. Both games will be streamed on ESPN+ and carried on the Gamecock Sports Network.

The setback spoiled junior Christian Edwards' performance as he went a career-best eight innings of work. Edwards accumulated 10 strikeouts, the second time this season the Hartselle, Alabama right hander has finished with double digit strikeouts. He fanned 12 in six innings at South Alabama. Edwards was touched for three hits on the night. Senior Corley Woods suffered the tough loss after tossing the ninth.

Jax State had ample chances to give Edwards a lead to work with as it stranded 12 base runners, including having a runner on base in eight of the nine frames. EKU's Darren Williams matched Edwards' effort with eight innings, nine strikeouts and walked three Gamecocks. Williams scattered JSU's six hits on the night and worked around a pair of errors by his defense.

Redshirt junior Zeth Malcom was the only Gamecock to solve Williams twice on the night with a pair of hits. Senior Alex Webb, junior Alex Strachan, junior Isaac Alexander and senior Tre Kirlin all had hits on the night.