CHARLESTON, Ill. – Jacksonville State used a pair of strong pitching performances to earn a sweep over Eastern Illinois to move into first place in the Ohio Valley Conference on Sunday. The Gamecocks claimed a 2-0 extra-inning win in the opener, before allowing just two hits to earn a 6-0 shutout in the second game.
The Gamecocks improved to 20-17 overall and 11-4 in the OVC and now has a 1/2 game lead over Samford, who is 10-4 in the conference.
The Bulldogs dropped a 7-6 loss at Southeast Missouri State on Sunday to lose 2-of-3 in the series.
In the opener, Alex Jones (5-2) tossed the final 1 2/3 innings to earn his fifth win of the season after recording a pair of strikeouts in relief.
Starter Ben Tootle pitched 7 1/3 innings and allowed just two hits with seven strikeouts and didn’t allow a hit until the fifth inning.
The Gamecocks took the lead in the ninth inning after Brian Piazza reached on a throwing error before Matt McLaughlin belted a two-out, two-run home run to left center to give JSU the only runs it would need.
Jordan Tokarz and Richie Derbak recorded consecutive singles to open the bottom of the ninth, but were stranded after Jones struck out Zach Skidmore and Neil Wright to end the game with runners on second and third.
McLaughlin finished 2-for-4 after hitting his second home run of the season to lead the Gamecocks at the plate in the opener.
In the second game, Jordan Beistline and Brian Booth combined to allow just two hits on the mound as the Gamecocks claimed a 6-0 win. Beistline had three strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings and gave up just one hit, while Booth gave up just one hit in the final 3 2/3 innings to earn the win.
The Gamecocks took a 1-0 lead after Steven Leach reached on a two-out walk and moved to second on a passed ball. The Gamecocks took a 1-0 lead after Steven Leach reached on a two-out walk and moved to second on a passed ball. Clay Whittemore followed with a RBI double to left center to score Leach and give JSU the early lead.
Jax State pushed the lead to 3-0 in the fourth inning after Daniel Adamson hit a one-out, solo home run and Spencer Brandes walked and came around to score on a EIU error.
The Gamecocks added three insurance runs in the sixth inning.
Jacksonville State returns to action today in Birmingham against UAB, before returning home to host Troy at Rudy Abbott Field on Wednesday.
