FINAL STATS

JACKSONVILLE – Sam Eberle finished with a career-high five hits and drove in five runs to lead Jacksonville State to an 11-4 win over Southern Illinois at Rudy Abbott Field on Saturday afternoon.

JSU's Jordan Beistline (1-1) scattered four hits in five solid innings on the mound to earn his first win of the season. Lee Weld (1-1) gave up four runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings to suffer the loss for the Salukis.

The Gamecocks jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead after Todd Cunningham had a two-out triple and Steven Leach followed with an infield single to score the first run of the day. Jake Sharrock followed with a single to right center and Eberle had a two-RBI single to give JSU the early lead.

Jax State extended the lead in the second on a RBI double by Leach to give the Gamecocks a 4-0 lead.

Southern Illinois got on the board in the fifth inning after Chris Murphy had a two-out triple and Aaron Roberts followed with an infield single to make the score 4-1.

The Gamecocks answered with four runs in the home half of the fifth to extend the lead, highlighted by a two-run home run by Eberle, while Daniel Adamson and Seguin each had a RBI double as JSU built an 8-1 lead.

Jax State pushed the lead to 11-1 in the sixth inning after Eberle doubled in a run, and Bert Smith and Seguin each knocked in a run.

SIU scored three runs in the seventh inning on a two-RBI triple by Nick Johnson and a sacrifice fly by Aaron Roberts for the final margin.

Cal Lambert and Sharrock each finished with three hits, while Smith, Seguin and Leach each added two hits as the Gamecocks finished with a season-high 19 hits on the day.

The two teams will play the rubber game of the three-game series on Sunday. Game time is set for 1 p.m. at Rudy Abbott Field.