JACKSONVILLE – Sam Eberle and Andrew Edge each hit home runs to lead Jacksonville State to a 12-4 win over Samford as the Gamecocks have now won 13 of the last 14 meetings between their in-state rivals.

Sophomore Daniel Watts (2-3) allowed just two hits and had three strikeouts in four solid innings on the mound to earn the win. Dayne Cutrell (0-2) gave up four runs and five hits to get stuck with the loss for the Bulldogs.

The Gamecocks took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Eberle drove in the first of five runs with an infield grounder, and then JSU plated six runs in the fourth to take control.

Blake Seguin had a RBI single and later came around to score, before Eberle belted a 3-run home run to left field to give the Gamecocks a 7-1 lead. It was the ninth homer for the sophomore from Chattanooga, which leads the team.

Samford scored all of its runs in the fifth inning, highlighted by a two-RBI double by Michael Johnson as the Bulldogs sliced the lead to 7-4.

Jax State then scored two runs in the seventh inning on a two-run homer by Edge, which was his eighth of the season, to give JSU a 9-4 lead.

The Gamecocks added three more runs in the eighth inning after Eberle drove in a run with a single up the middle, before Bert Smith scored on a wild pitch and Eberle came across on the fifth Samford error of the night.

Eberle, Edge, Seguin and Smith each finished with a pair of hits as the Gamecocks finished with 12 in the game. Samford was led by Trey Hayes' two hits.

Jacksonville State opens Ohio Valley Conference play this weekend with a three-game series at UT Martin. Saturday's double-header is scheduled for 1 p.m., while Sunday's finale will also begin at 1 p.m.