FINAL STATS

RICHMOND, Ky. – Senior Andrew Edge had three hits and drove in four runs to lead Jacksonville State to an 11-3 win over Eastern Kentucky as the Gamecocks won the Ohio Valley Conference series on Sunday.

The Gamecocks improve to 26-23 overall and 12-8 in the OVC, while EKU falls to 24-24 and 9-12 in the conference. With the win, Jax State secured a spot in the 2010 OVC Baseball Championship, which begins in two weeks.

Sophomore Aaron Elias (1-1) earned his first win of the season after tossing 5 2/3 inning and allowing just two runs on six hits. Tanner Freshour pitched the final 3 2/3 innings of the game for JSU, allowing just one run on three hits to earn his first save of the season. EKU's Stephen Hefler (4-4) got stuck with the loss for the Colonels after along seven runs on five hits in 3 2/3 innings.

JSU got on the board first in the top of the first as an infield hit by Edge scored Bert Smith and made it 1-0.

The Colonels answered in the home half of the first and took a 2-1 lead on a solo home run by Richie Rodriguez and a RBI single by Ryan Faidley, but the Gamecocks took the lead for good in the third inning.

Jax State plated five runs in the third inning, highlighted by a three-run by Sam Eberle, to build a 6-2 lead.

Jake Sharrock and Edge each drove in a run in the fourth inning to take control of the game as the Gamecocks built a 8-3 lead.

Steven Leach and Jay Davis each scored in the eighth inning for the Gamecocks, while EKU scored its final run on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth.

Daniel Adamson scored on a RBI single by Davis in the top of the ninth inning for the final margin.

Adamson and Edge each finished with three hits, while Davis had two hits to lead the Gamecocks.

Jacksonville State returns to action on Tuesday at Auburn. Game time is set for 6:30 p.m. at Plainsman Park.