BIRMINGHAM –
Bert Smith and
Kyle Bluestein each had three hits to lead Jacksonville State to a 7-5 win over UAB at Young Memorial Field on Wednesday.
Todd Hornsby (2-1) recorded the final four outs to earn the win in relief. UAB's Blake Huddleston (0-2) allowed a pair of runs in the top of the ninth inning to suffer the loss.
Jacksonville State rallied to score a pair of runs in the top of the ninth inning to earn the win. Smith led off the ninth with a single and Bluestein followed with a double down the left field line to score Smith and give JSU a 6-5 lead.
Jake Sharrock followed with a RBI single to left to score Bluestein as JSU took a two-run lead, before Hornsby got the final three outs.
Jax State took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning after Bluestein led off with a double and
Andrew Edge followed with a RBI double to give the Gamecocks the early lead.
JSU added two more runs in the fifth inning after
Blake Seguin had a RBI single and Edge drew a bases loaded walk to give the Gamecocks a 3-0 lead.
The Gamecocks added a run in the sixth inning on a RBI single by
Steven Leach to take a 4-0 lead, but the Blazers answered with a run in the home half of the sixth on a solo home run by John Frost.
Jax State added a run in the seventh inning after Edge scored on a Blazer error to extend the lead to 5-1, but UAB rallied with four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to tie the game at 5-5.
Edge and Leach each added two hits as the Gamecocks finished with 13 on the night.
Jacksonville State has the weekend off and returns to action next Wednesday at Troy.