RICHMOND, Ky. – Junior Lucas Waters went 3-for-5 with an RBI but it wasn't enough as Jacksonville State pounded out 14 hits on its way to an 8-4 victory over the Eastern Kentucky baseball team in game one of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. The Gamecocks completed the sweep with a 9-6 victory in game two. Eastern finished the day at 15-19-1 overall and 5-7 in the OVC, while JSU improves to 23-17 and 11-3.

The Gamecocks jumped on top in game one with three runs in the third. EKU starter Christian Friedrich walked Josh Sanders and Bert Smith with one out to bring up Daniel Adamson who doubled down the left-field line to give JSU a 1-0 lead. Jake Ball followed with a two-run single to give Jacksonville a 3-0 lead.

Junior Joe Oliver got a run right back for the Colonels in the bottom of the inning, leading off with a solo shot to right-center field. Waters then singled with two outs and came around to score when senior Tony Wells ripped an RBI double down the right-field line.

JSU pushed its lead back to three though with two runs in the sixth. The Gamecocks loaded the bases with one out against EKU reliever Chris Hord who then struck out Adamson for the second out. But Ball followed with a two-run single into center to give JSU a 5-2 lead.

The Gamecocks put the game away with three runs in the ninth highlighted by a two-run double from Eric Beck. Eastern got two in the bottom of the ninth on a Waters RBI single and Wells RBI groundout.

Friedrich (2-2) took the loss for Eastern allowing three runs on six hits in 5.0 innings of work. Tony Drinkard (5-1) picked up the win for JSU, allowing just two runs on six hits in 6.2 innings.

JSU struck first again in game two as Kyle McCreary singled with one out, stole second and moved to third on a Clay Whittemore fielder's choice. Then with Beck at the plate, Whittemore broke for second and made it in ahead of Oliver's throw, allowing McCreay to come home with the game's first run.

Eastern responded though in the bottom of the first as Barnett hit his second home run of the season, a solo shot to right.

The Colonels took a 2-1 lead in the second as Oliver reached on a fielder's choice, moved to third on a single from sophomore Dylan McMaine and then came home on a run-scoring single from junior Clint Seymour. Whittemore tied it up in the fourth, hammering a one-out solo home run just over the center field fence.

JSU took the lead for good with four runs in the fifth. The Gamecocks put runners on second and third with one out and Smith followed with an RBI single to give the visitors a 3-2 lead. McCreary made it 4-2 a batter later with a run-scoring single through the left side of the infield. Whittemore, who went 2-for-3 with three RBI in the game, knocked in the final two runs of the inning with a two-run single down the right field line.

Eastern got within 6-3 with a run in the bottom of the fifth on a Waters RBI single but the Gamecocks got another run in the sixth and two more in the seventh to put the game out of reach and secure the sweep.

Donovan Hand (5-5) went the distance, allowing five earned on eight hits to earn the victory. Sophomore Eric Hash (2-3) took the loss, allowing five runs in the 5.0 innings of work.