GAME ONE FINAL STATS  |   GAME TWO FINAL STATS

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Senior Bert Smith became the Ohio Valley Conference's career hits leader after recording four hits on Saturday as the Gamecocks split a double-header against Austin Peay on Saturday.

Smith, from Pelham, had a pair of hits in the opener and then hit a single in the fifth inning of the second game to tie Southeast Missouri's Jeremy Johnson's total of 287 hits. The senior second baseman then hit a single up the middle in the seventh inning to set the OVC record with 288 career hits. Smith also holds the OVC record for most at-bats and is the Gamecocks' career leader for hits and stolen bases.

In the opener, Smith and Daniel Adamson each had a pair of hits as JSU rallied to claim a 6-5 come-from-behind win over the Governors, while Austin Peay held on for a 4-2 win in the night cap.

Tanner Freshour (5-1) scattered four hits over 1 1/3 innings to earn the win for the Gamecocks, while Todd Hornsby tossed the final three innings to earn his first save of the year. Zach Gerler (2-3) gave up three runs in just 1/3 of an inning to suffer the loss for the Governors in the first game.

Austin Peay jumped out to an early 4-0 lead after scoring four runs on six hits in the first inning, highlighted by a two-RBI triple by Matt Kole.

Jax State scored its first run in the fourth inning after Andrew Edge scored on a bases loaded hit-by-pitch to Steven Leach.

Austin Peay pushed the lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning on a Trey Lucas RBI single, but the Gamecocks took the lead for good in the seventh inning.

Jax State scored five runs on just two hits, while taking advantage of three walks, two hit-by-pitch, a balk and a wild pitch. Smith and Adamson each drove in a run, while Jay Davis drove in a run on a sacrifice fly, while Todd Cunningham scored on a balk and Steven Leach got credit for a RBI on a bases loaded walk.

Hornsby then replaced Gamecock reliever Freshour and recorded the final nine outs as the Gamecocks won the opener.

It marked the fourth straight year the Gamecocks won the opening game in the series by one run and it was the seventh one-run game over the previous 12 meetings between the two teams.

In the second game, Jax State took a 1-0 lead in the second inning after Sam Eberle had a one-out single and came around to score on an Austin Peay fielding error.

The Governors answered in the third inning by taking the lead after Reed Harper RBI single, before Adam Browett drove in two runs to give Austin Peay a 3-1 lead.

Jax State cut the lead to 3-2 in the fifth inning on a RBI single by Todd Cunningham, but could get no closer. Austin Peay added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning for the final margin.

Starter Ryne Harper (4-2) got credit for the win, while Zach Gerler picked up the save for the Governors. JSU's Hunter Rivers (3-3) got stuck with the loss after giving up three runs, despite allowing only four hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Smith had a pair of hits to lead the Gamecocks in the second game, while Cole had two hits to lead Austin Peay.

The two teams will play the rubber game of the series on Sunday at 1 p.m.