FINAL STATS

JACKSONVILLE – Andrew Edge slugged two home runs to lead Jacksonville State to an 8-4 win over Eastern Michigan at Rudy Abbott Field on Saturday.

JSU's Jordan Beistline (2-1) scattered six hits and allowed just one earned run to earn the win, while Alex Jones had three strikeouts over the final 2 1/3 innings to pick up the save. Jordan Glover (0-3) allowed five runs and seven hits to get stuck with the loss.

The Eagles (5-8) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a RBI single by Matt Skirving, but the Gamecocks tied the game in the home half of the first after Kyle Bluestein had a RBI single to score Todd Cunningham.

Eastern Michigan build a 3-1 lead in the second inning after Wally Gerbus scored on a Gamecock throwing error and Ken Battiston followed with a RBI double down the left field line to give the Eagles the lead.

Jax State cut the lead to 3-2 in the fourth inning after Edge hit his first home run of the day over the left center field fence.

The Eagles extended the lead to 4-2 in the fifth on a RBI single by Zack Leonard, but the Gamecocks took the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth.

Edge had a two-run home run to tie the game at 4-4 with his fifth round tripper of the season. Jay Davis gave the Gamecocks the lead after scoring on a throwing error.

Jax State added a pair of runs in the seventh on a RBI by Davis and Steven Leach scored on an Eagle throwing error to give JSU a 7-4 lead.

The Gamecocks added an insurance run in the eighth inning when Daniel Adamson drove in a run with an infield grounder for the final margin.

Bluestein led Jax State with three hits, while Edge and Davis each finished with a pair of hits.

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