FINAL STATS

JACKSONVILLE – Jonathan Merritt hit a three-run home run to lead UAB to a 9-7 win over Jacksonville State in the final home game of the regular-season for the Gamecocks at Rudy Abbott Field on Wednesday.

UAB's Trey Vice (2-0) allowed just one hit and had three strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings on the mound to earn the win, while Nick Graffeo recorded the final three outs to earn his seventh save of the year. JSU's Kevin Elwell gave up seven runs to suffer the loss.

The Blazers jumped out to a big lead after scoring six runs in the second inning, highlighted by Merritt's sixth home run of the season, as UAB built a 6-0 lead.

Jax State scored two runs in the bottom of the second on a RBI by Blake Seguin and Todd Cunningham to cut the lead to 6-2, but the Blazers scored three in the fourth inning to extend the lead.

Luke Stewart had a bases loaded walk, while Digger Towe had a two-RBI single up the middle to give UAB a 9-2 lead.

The Gamecocks scored a run in the seventh inning on a RBI single by Smith and pushed across four more runs in the eighth inning as JSU scored two on a UAB throwing error. Andrew Edge then was hit by a pitch with bases loaded and Sam Eberle drove in another run for the final margin.

Edge, Adamson and Bluestein each had two hits to lead the Gamecocks, while Jamal Austin, Andrew Manning, Bradley Hicks and Towe each had two hits for UAB.

Jacksonville State returns to action with a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series at Eastern Kentucky this weekend. Saturday's double-header and Sunday's single-game will begin at 12 noon each day.