JSU Downs Blue Raiders, 4-1

Friday, March 11

Reese Smith Field

3:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

Jacksonville State

3/11/2005 6:31:00 PM | Baseball

By: MT Media Relations

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Jacksonville State scored three unearned runs in the top of the ninth and Gamecock pitching allowed just three hits in the game in posting a 4-1 victory over Middle Tennessee on a cold and blustery Friday afternoon at Reese Smith Field. Middle Tennessee (6-4) scored a run in the first and JSU tied the score in the second, with neither team scoring until a miscue in the ninth opened the door for the visitors. The Gamecocks won for the fifth time in seven games in the series and ended Middle Tennessee's string of six straight outings with double-digit hits. Donovan Hand (1-1) tossed three scoreless innings to get the win, while Jimmy Kelly (0-1) suffered the loss, giving up two unearned runs in 3.2 innings of work. The Blue Raiders got on the board first when Eric McNamee reached on a two-base error to leadoff the game. A two-out double down the rightfield line by Marcus Taylor plated the run for a 1-0 lead. But the Gamecocks (5-7) came back in the second with a pair of singles and a walk to load the bases. A doubleplay erased two runners but plated a run to tie the contest. Neither team put together much offense for the rest of the game, though the Gamecocks had the best chances to take the lead. A single and two walks in the third loaded the bases for JSU, but a strikeout ended the threat. The Gamecocks also stranded one runner in the fourth, fifth and seventh, with an inning-ending doubleplay killing a threat in the fifth. The Blue Raiders left one runner in the third after an error and stranded two more in the fourth after a single and a walk. JSU took advantage of a walk and an error in the ninth to score three unearned runs and take the victory. A one-out walk followed by a throwing error by Kelly put runners on the corners with one out for the Gamecocks. Winston Pearson put JSU ahead with a single to left against Chase Swing before a walk loaded the bases. Austin Stein's two-out single to center plated two more runs for a 4-1 advantage. Both starting pitchers did an excellent job but did not figure in the decision. Middle Tennessee's Allan Woodward allowed six hits in five innings, walking four and striking out six. JSU's Josh Forrest gave up just two hits while walking two and striking out four in six innings. The two teams play again Saturday at 2 p.m. and conclude the series Sunday at 1 p.m. GAME NOTES Freshman Nathan Hines made his first start of the season in centerfield ... Junior Allan Woodward made his first start of the season on the mound ... Marcus Taylor's double in the first extended his hitting streak to four games ... Nate Jaggers nine-game hitting streak ended with an 0-for-4 effort ... Sophomore Wayne Kendrick made just his second career start and first this season, serving as the designated hitter ... Senior Chase Swing made his first appearance of the season.