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MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Jacksonville State took the three-game series victory with the 10-4 win over the Morehead State baseball team Sunday afternoon at Allen Field.
The Eagles (15-13, 3-3 OVC) plated the first run of the contest. Designated hitter
Taylor Pickens and third baseman
Andrew Deeds recorded singles off JSU starter Hunter Rivers to begin the first inning before left fielder
Nick Duff drove in Pickens from third on a sacrifice fly to centerfield.
Hunter was effective in his third start of the season for the Gamecocks (10-17, 4-2 OVC). En route to his first win of the year, he fanned seven and allowed three runs in 5.2 innings.
JSU answered the Eagle run with two runs in the second inning. Second baseman Kyle Stone scored two on a dribbler up the middle past the outstretched glove of MSU starter
Blake Smith.
Trailing 2-1 going into the bottom of the second, centerfielder
Duran Elmore evened the score at two by launching a solo shot over the right-field wall. Elmore’s long ball was his second of the season.
The Gamecocks tallied two runs in the third frame to retake the lead. The runs came on a ground out by outfielder Kyle Bluestein and an RBI single by designated hitter Erik Underwood.
Despite allowing an Eagle run in the third, the Gamecocks extended their lead to 6-3 in the fifth inning. Smith allowed three hits, including a Scott Underwood double, and JSU plated a pair of runs.
Smith lasted 4.2 innings, allowed six runs, struck out three and took the loss, his first of the season.
JSU scored three runs in the seventh and one in the eighth. First baseman Ben Waldrip led the Gamecocks at the plate by going 4-for-5 with three RBI and a stolen base, the first of his career.
Pickens, Deeds and
Luke Bainer recorded multi-hit games in the series finale. Pickens went 3-for-5 with a home run, and Deeds had two base knocks. He has hit safely in 18 out of his last 19 starts.
The Eagles return to Allen Field for a midweek contest versus St. Catharine Tuesday at 3 p.m. ET.
