Jacksonville St. Picks Up Three-Game OVC Series Over SIUE

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Alex Webb hit a 1-0 pitch out to right field for a walk-off grand slam Friday as Jacksonville State defeated SIUE 6-2 in the opener of a three-game Ohio Valley Conference baseball series.

SIUE fell to 17-29 overall and 9-16 in OVC play. Jacksonville State improved to 28-21 overall and 17-8 in the OVC.

"It was a gut punch in the ninth but it was a good game against a good team," SIUE Head Coach Sean Lyons said. "It didn't end the way we wanted it to. It was a good baseball game and we came up on the wrong end."

Braydon Bone (0-2, Effingham H.S.) suffered the loss, allowing three of the runs over 1/3 of an inning. Bone followed started Collin Baumgartner and fellow reliever Chris Robinson. Baumgartner allowed two runs, just one earned, over 6 1/3 innings. He struck out four and he did not walk a batter.

"Collin was outstanding," Lyons said. "It's tough for Collin with his performance and we just didn't do enough in support of his efforts. He was sharp. And Chris Robinson did a nice job out of the pen."

The Cougars finished with seven hits. Brock Weimer finished 2-4 and accounted for both of SIUE's RBIs on a two-run single in the third inning.

"We barreled quite a few balls that didn't result as we wanted," Lyons said. "We put up a lot of quality at-bats against a really good arm."

JSU starter Garett Farmer worked six innings, allowing both runs on the seven SIUE hits. He struck out seven and did not walk a hitter.

Webb finished 2-5 at the plate with five RBIs for the Gamecocks.

Saturday's Game

For the second time in as many games, SIUE suffered a walk-off defeat to Jacksonville State. Nic Gaddis sent the Gamecocks to a 3-2 win with a one-out solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning.

SIUE has now lost three straight games and fell to 17-30 overall and 9-17 in Ohio Valley Conference play. JSU improved to 29-20 and 18-8 in the OVC.

Gaddis' long ball spoiled and otherwise masterful start by Cougar right-hander Kenny Serwa. Serwa tossed his second consecutive complete game, allowing the three runs on six hits. He struck out five and walked two. Serwa fell to 3-2 with the loss.

"Kenny turned in another stellar performance," SIUE Head Coach Sean Lyons said. "He gave us an opportunity to win. Hats off to him."

The homer also came after SIUE tied the score in its final at-bat.

Trailing 2-1 in the top of the ninth, Dustin Woodcock's two-out, RBI-double scored Brendan Ryan from second base to tie the score. Ryan singled to open the inning and then advanced to second on a bunt by Jordan Ross.

"Woodcock had a great at-bat in the ninth," Lyons said. "That was a huge moment."

JSU scored twice on three hits in the second to take a 2-0 lead before Serwa settled in. Serwa faced just three batters over the minimum after that point.

SIUE's first run came in the third on an RBI-single by Ryan to score Raul Elguezabal. Elguezabal singled earlier in the inning and advanced to third on a failed pickoff play.

The Cougars outhit the Gamecocks 10-6, but stranded 10 runners on base. Woodcock, Elguezabal, Ryan and Brock Weimer each finished with two hits.

"Unfortunately we left numerous opportunities for the big hit out there," Lyons said. "It cost us the game."

Gaddis was the only Jacksonville State player with more than a single hit. He was 2-4.

JSU used five pitchers to secure the win. Isaiah Magwood started and worked five innings allowing a run on six hits. Christian Edwards worked the final two innings, allowing a run, and earned the win.

Sunday's Game

Jacksonville State completed the three-game series sweep Sunday, defeating SIUE 4-3 in 11 innings in the final game of the series.

The Cougars fell to 17-31 and 9-18 in the Ohio Valley Conference. JSU improved to 19-8 in the OVC and 30-21 overall.

The Gamecocks used a hit, a pair of walks and a wild pitch to score the winning run in the bottom of the 11th. Isaac Alexander singled to the left side of the infield to bring home the winning run.

Cole Milam (1-3) suffered the loss. He worked 2 2/3 innings. He struck out six.

David Llorens started for the Cougars and allowed two runs over five innings.

"Llorens did a nice job of keeping Jacksonville State off balance for his five innings," SIUE Head Coach Sean Lyons said.

Cameron Prayer followed Llorens and worked two innings, allowing an unearned run.

Jacksonville State used five pitchers to limit SIUE to five hits. Dylan Hatchcock started and allowed SIUE's three runs in three innings. Michael Gilliand worked the final 2/3 of an inning and improved to 2-1 with the win.

SIUE took an early lead, plating two runs in the first. Peyton Cordova-Smith drove home Dustin Woodcock and Eric Giltz with a one-out double. The Cougars made it 3-0 in the third inning when Giltz scored on a wild pitch.

"We hit several balls hard today, but right at defenders," Lyons said. "We made some miscues on the base paths that thwarted any chance of separating."

Nash Adams pulled the Gamecocks within a run with a two-run homer in the fifth inning. JSU tied the score in the eighth with an unearned run after an error on a Gamecocks' bunt.

"The mishandling of the bunt in the eighth really hurt us," Lyons said.   

SIUE plays Tuesday at Illinois State before finishing the OVC schedule with a three-game home series with Murray State Thursday-Saturday.

"With only four games and one conference series remaining we don't have any choice but to focus," Lyons added.