GAME ONE FINAL STATS  |   GAME TWO FINAL STATS

RICHMOND, Ky. – Todd Cunningham hit a pair of home runs to lead Jacksonville State to an Ohio Valley Conference series split at Eastern Kentucky as the Gamecocks claimed a 3-2 win and dropped a 4-2 contest on Saturday.

The Gamecocks improved to 25-23 and 11-8 in the OVC, while Eastern Kentucky is 24-23 and 9-11 in the conference.

JSU's Austin Lucas (4-0) tossed his third complete-game of the season and had six strikeouts to earn the win, while EKU's Paul Duncan (4-4) suffered the loss for the Colonels.

Jax State took a 2-0 lead after Cunningham scored on a Steven Leach RBI in the first inning and Cal Lambert drove in a run in the second inning as the Gamecocks took the early lead.

The game was then delayed for one hour and forty minutes in the top of the third inning for rain, and the Colonels battled back after the delay to tie the game in the home half of the third inning.

Richie Rodriguez and Jacob Daniel each drove in a run to tie the game at 2-2, but JSU's Cunningham slugged a solo home run in the fifth inning to put the Gamecocks on top for good.

The game was called after the fifth inning due to darkness.

Cunningham and Jake Sharrock each had a pair of hits to lead Jax State, while EKU was limited to only three hits.

In the opener, Jason Langfels went 3-for-4 to lead the Colonels to a 4-2 win over the Gamecocks.

EKU's Anthony Bazzani tossed a complete-game, allowing seven hits and recording six strikeouts to earn the win. JSU's Alex Jones (1-5) suffered the loss after allowing a run and walking two in 2/3 of an inning.

The Gamecocks took a 1-0 lead after Todd Cunningham led the game off with a solo home run, the third time the junior outfielder has led off the game with a home run.

The Colonels tied the game in the home of the first on a RBI single by Langfels to make the score 1-1, but JSU battled back in the third inning.

Bert Smith led off with a bunt single and moved to third on a two-base throwing error. Steven Leach followed with a sacrifice fly to score Smith and give the Gamecocks a 2-1 lead.

Eastern Kentucky tied the game in the sixth inning after Anthony Ottrando hit a solo home run to make the score 2-2, before scoring a run in the seventh and eighth innings for the final margin.

The Colonels took the lead in the seventh inning after Austin Grisham led off with a walk and came around to score on an infield grounder to take a 3-2 lead. EKU then pushed across an insurance run in the eighth inning on a RBI by Grisham for the final margin.

Smith led the Gamecocks after recording a pair of hits.

The two teams will play the rubber game of the series at 11 a.m. on Sunday.