FINAL STATS

BIRMINGHAM – Senior Bert Smith became Jacksonville State's career hits leader after recording a pair of hits to lead Jacksonville State to an 11-7 win over Samford as the Gamecocks have now won 12 of the last 13 meetings.

Smith singled to right field in the top of the fifth inning to record hit number 259 to pass Clay Whittemore's school record of 258.

JSU's Bill Henke (1-0) had four strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings to earn his first win of the season for the Gamecocks. Andrew Strauss (0-3) gave up two runs and walked two without recording an out to suffer the loss for Samford.

The Gamecocks jumped on the Bulldogs early, scoring seven runs off three different Samford pitchers in the first inning.

Todd Cunningham and Bert Smith both walked to open the game to chase Strauss from the game, then Sam Eberle followed with a three-run home run to left field as the Gamecocks built a 3-0 lead.

Kyle Bluestein was then hit by a pitch and Daniel Adamson walked before Andrew Edge had a RBI double down the left field line. Jake Sharrock followed with a single to right center to score two runs before Smith followed with a single to give Jax State a 7-0 lead.

The Gamecocks extended the lead in the second inning after Adamson hit a solo home run to give JSU an 8-0 lead.

Samford scored two in the second, but the Gamecocks tacked on three more runs in the third to take an 11-3 advantage.

Eberle hit his second home run of the game and a team-high seventh of the season to give the Gamecocks the big lead.

Samford then scored a run in the third, two in the fourth and sixth innings for the final margin.

Smith, Eberle, Sharrock and Blake Seguin each had a pair of hits to lead the Gamecocks, while Eberle finished with a season-high six RBI.

Jacksonville State returns to action this weekend with a three-game series against Miami (Ohio). Saturday's double-header is scheduled for 1 p.m., while Sunday's single-game will also begin at 1 p.m.