FINAL STATS

JACKSONVILLE – Tyler Burnett, Zach Hudson and Justin Miller each had three hits to lead Middle Tennessee to a 10-3 win over Jacksonville State in the opening game of a three-game series at Rudy Abbott Field on Friday.

Kenneth Roberts (1-0) scattered five hits in seven solid innings on the mound to earn his first win of the season for the Blue Raiders. JSU's Daniel Watts (0-2) had five strikeouts in four innings to suffer the loss for the Gamecocks.

Middle Tennessee scored two runs in the first and second innings to jump out to a 4-0 lead, before the Gamecocks scored a run in the third inning.

Todd Cunningham led off the third with a solo home run to left field to cut the lead to 4-1, but the Blue Raiders answered in the fourth inning.

Middle Tennessee scored five runs in the fourth inning to take control of the game. Burnett and Will Skinner each hit two-run home runs, while Bryce Brentz added a solo home run as the Blue Raiders built a 9-1 lead.

MTSU pushed the lead to 10-1 in the fifth inning after Miller hit a solo home run, before the Gamecocks added a run in the sixth on a solo home run by Kyle Bluestein to cut the lead to 10-2.

Jax State added a run in the ninth inning when Cunningham scored on a bases loaded walk for the final margin. Cunningham led the Gamecocks at the plate after finishing with a pair of hits.

The two teams will play the second game of the series on Saturday. Game time is set for 1 p.m. at Rudy Abbott Field.