CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – The Jacksonville State split a Saturday doubleheader with Southeast Missouri in Ohio Valley Conference baseball action.

The Gamecocks evened the series with an 8-4 win in the opening game, while the Redhawks claimed the rubber game  to 8-3 win the series. After the weekend action, JSU stands at 12-14 overall and 5-4 in OVC play. SEMO moved to 13-13 on the season and 7-5 in the conference.

After a tough 6-5 setback on Friday to start the series, the Gamecocks had two big innings to carry them in the opener. The pitching trio of redshirt junior Dylan Hathcock, freshman Austin Downey and senior Corley Woods was able to pitch out of SEMO scoring threats throughout the game after being handed a lead in the second inning with JSU's first of two three-run frames. Jax State was able to record three double plays in critical situation.

JSU shook off a 1-0 Redhawk lead with a three-run second inning which was highlighted by a two-run home run by sophomore Carson Crowe. After a leadoff double by Alex Strachan and an RBI double from Alex Carignan, Crowe hammered a two-run home run over the right field wall. Strachan would lead JSU in the opener with a four-hit contest, including a solo home run in the ninth as an insurance run.

Strachan's two-out single sparked JSU's three-run fifth inning. Redshirt sophomore Nash Adams reached after being hit by a pitch, followed by back-to-back walks from Carignan and Crowe.

Senior Tre Kirklin had JSU's second of three home runs as he started the third inning with a home run.

Hathcock tossed the first 3.1 innings, scattering seven hits and allowed three of the four SEMO runs. He tallied four strikeouts in the outing. Downey picked up his first win of the season with 2.2 innings of work with just a pair of Redhawk hits. Woods finished the final three frames to earn his fourth save of the game. He registered three strikeouts in the contest.

In game two, SEMO scored three runs in the first two innings to take command of the contest and added four runs in the fourth inning to take a 7-0 lead. JSU scratched the scoreboard with two runs in the fifth. Carignan, who doubled in the inning, scored on a wild pitch, followed by an RBI by Cole Frederick. Frederick added his second RBI in the ninth.

The Gamecocks remain on the road with a Wednesday trip to Montgomery, Alabama to face Hornets of Alabama State. JSU claimed a 5-3 win over ASU during the opening weekend of the season. First pitch from the Watkins Wheeler Complex is set for 6 p.m. The game will be available on the Gamecock Sports Network. Jax State will return to Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium next weekend, hosting the Bruins of Belmont. The three-game series will start on Friday, April 9.