GAME ONE BOX SCORE  |  GAME TWO BOX SCORE

JACKSONVILLE – Bert Smith and Andrew Edge each had four hits for the Gamecocks on Sunday, but it was a big day by the Southeast Missouri offense that guided the Redhawks to a doubleheader sweep of the Gamecocks in a battle between the Ohio Valley Conference's top two teams.

After the first day of the series was rained out on Saturday, the Gamecocks (20-18, 8-6 OVC) and Redhawks (25-14, 10-4 OVC) were forced to play a pair of seven-inning games on Sunday. They entered the day tied atop the conference standings, but SEMO used a 16-hit effort for a 10-5 win in game one and a three-run sixth to rally for a 6-5 win in the finale.

Smith, a senior from Helena, Ala., reached base in six of his eight plate appearances, thanks to a 2-for-2 first game and a 2-for-4 effort in the nightcap. The OVC's career hits leader, Smith ran his total to 293, 24 of which have come against SEMO. Edge, a senior from Gadsden, Ala., was 2-for-4 in the opener and 2-for-3 in the nightcap.

Junior Todd Cunningham avenged a hitless first game with a 3-for-4 second game that saw him homer, drive in a pair and score twice.

Southeast Missouri's Casey Jones went 4-for-8 on the day with four RBI, three in the second game, to lead the Redhawks offensive attack. All nine players in the SEMO lineup had at least two hits in the twinbill.

In the opener, Smith reached base in all four plate appearances on a single, triple and two walks. He scored twice to provide one of the few sparks for the JSU offense in the game. Edge and Jake Sharrock also mustered a pair of hits.

Every player in the SEMO lineup recorded at least one hits except catcher Jim Clocke, who saw his OVC-best 25-game hitting streak come to an end. In all, the Redhawks notched 16 hits.

JSU starter Jordan Beistline retired the first five batters he faced before Brett Russell placed a bloop double on the line in left field. The Redhawks' first baserunner extended the inning and set up a two-run homer from Blake Slattery. Daniel Adamson was able to get one back for the Gamecocks in the bottom of the frame with a leadoff homer off of the screen in center that cut the deficit to 2-1 in the second.

SEMO plated four more in the third to chase Beistline with just one out. Bill Henke came on in relief and surrendered a pair of hits before getting the Gamecocks out of the inning.

The Redhawks got another across in the top of the fifth to take a 7-1 lead, but the Gamecocks got two back in the home half of the frame. Jake Sharrock led off the inning with a triple to right and scored on a Blake Seguin sac fly, then Smith tripled and scored on an Edge single.

The SEMO offense wouldn't allow JSU to make up any ground, as its offense pushed two more runs across in the sixth and another in the seventh to create a 10-3 cushion.

JSU was able to score a pair in the seventh on a Sam Eberle single that plated Smith and a wild pitch from Nick Thomas that allowed Edge to score from third.

Thomas (6-0) earned the win in relief for the Redhawks, allowing four runs on seven hits in six innings of work. He walked one and struck out six on 97 pitches in relief of starter Logan Mahon, who surrendered a run on two hits and three walks in just over an inning on the hill.

Beistline (2-3) was tagged with the loss for JSU after surrendering six runs on six hits in 2 1/3 innings.

SEMO got the finale going in the same fashion they did in game one, thanks to a mammoth three-run home run off of the bat of Jones that gave the Redhawks a 3-0 lead in the first. JSU's Cunningham had a slight answer in the home half of the first with a leadoff homer that cut the deficit top 3-1 after one.

The Gamecocks plated three in the second to claim their first lead of the doubleheader. The inning started on an RBI single from Cunningham that scored Leach from second. The single to right rolled under the glove of SEMO's Louie Haseltine, allowing Seguin to score from first and Cunningham to reach third. Smith continued his impressive afternoon, lacing one through the left side to drive in Cunningham and give the Gamecocks a 4-3 advantage.

They took advantage of another Redhawk miscue in the third, when a pickoff attempt at first by reliever Kyle Gumieny sailed down the right field line and allowed Eberle to score from second and put JSU up 5-3.

JSU starter Austin Lucas settled in after the big first inning, retiring 13 straight batters before issuing back-to-back walks with two outs in the fifth. He was removed to make way for Todd Hornsby after allowing three runs on just two hits and three walks. He struck out three batters and threw 76 pitches in 4 2/3 innings on the hill.

The Redhawks got their first hit since the first in the sixth, when Jones doubled to right center and set up a two-run, game-tying homer from Haseltine off Hornsby. A throwing error by shortsop Jake Sharrock extended the inning and set the table for a go-ahead single by Campbell that gave SEMO a 6-5 lead on an unearned run.

SEMO put runners at second and third with no outs in the top of the seventh, but closer Alex Jones came on and got the Gamecocks out of the inning without any further damage being done.

Smith got a one-out single and stole second to put the tying run in scoring position in the seventh, but the Gamecocks couldn't push him across.

Hornsby was tagged with the loss after giving up three runs, two earned, on six hits in 1 1/3 innings on the mound.

Gumieny (7-0) earned the win in relief, tossing 2 2/3 scoreless innings in which he allowed just one hit. Shae Simmons held JSU to just one hit over the final two innings to earn his fourth save of the year.

The Gamecocks will play a pair of midweek games against UAB this week. They will host the Blazers on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. before traveling to Birmingham for a 6:30 p.m. game on Wednesday.