JACKSONVILLE – Senior Drew Collins collected six RBI and finished with three extra base hits to lead Jacksonville State to a 12-6 win over in-state rival Samford in the first midweek test of the season on a chilly Tuesday afternoon on Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium.

Collins, in his second year with the program, turned in a feat that no Gamecock has done since the 2000 season with a pair of triples in his first two plate appearances. He becomes the seventh Gamecock in the program's NCAA Division I era to accomplish that and the first since Jason Nunn hot a pair of triples in a single game against Jacksonville on May 5, 2000. His second triple of the night sparked the Gamecocks' third inning with two of his six runs pushed across the dish. Jax State erased a 3-0 deficit with a five-run frame. Sophomore Cooper Blauser and junior catcher Grayson Ashe had and RBI on a sacrifice fly.

The highlight of Collins' night came in the fourth inning after the Gamecocks loaded the bases. The Oregon, Ohio-left fielder blasted a grand slam over the left field wall to extend Jax State's lead over the visitors from Birmingham, 9-3, after four innings.

After Samford put the first three runs on the board, Jax State's relievers but a leash on the Bulldog offense. After a leadoff single to start the fourth inning, the Gamecocks retired the next 12 Bulldogs over the next four innings. Junior Brady Thomas, who picked up his first win at Jax State, tossed 2.1 innings and tallied six strikeouts. Sophomore Ryan Vermillion finished off that span with just one hit by Samford.

The seven Gamecock pitchers used in the Tuesday tussle combined for 13 strikeouts.

The top of the Jax State lineup gave the Bulldogs fits all night as Blauser adding a pair of hits and junior Caleb Johnson having a hit. Sophomore Sam Silas, junior Colton Hegwood and junior Rob Gordon recording multi-hit nights. Silas turned in Jax State's third triple of the game.

Weather has played havoc on the early season schedule. Jax State, who was scheduled to host Georgia State in a three-game series this weekend, but will now face Akron in a three-game series on Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium. The series will start on Friday at 3 p.m. with the series continuing through the weekend with 1 p.m. start times on Saturday and Sunday.

Tickets are available online at JaxStateSports.com. All Jax State students and fans 18 years old and younger are admitted free. The Friday and Sunday games of the weekend against the Zips will be streamed on ESPN+ and carried on the Gamecock Sports Network.