JACKSONVILLE – Danny Collins had a pair of hits and drove in five runs to lead Troy to a 9-1 win over Jacksonville State at Rudy Abbott Field on Tuesday.
Joe Hernandez (2-0) allowed just one hit and had five strikeouts in three solid innings on the mound to earn the win for the Trojans. Bradley Raulston (0-2) gave up just four hits and two runs, but got stuck with the loss for the Gamecocks.
Troy (12-11) jumped out to an early lead after scoring a pair of runs in the top of the first inning after Collins drove in a pair of runs with a double down the left field line to give the Trojans a 2-0 lead.
Troy added a run in the fourth inning after Boone Shear led off the inning with a solo homerun, and the Trojans added four more runs in the fifth inning, highlighted by a three-run home run by Collins.
The Trojans extended the lead in the seventh inning after Chase Mathis drove in two runs on a double down the left field line for a 9-0 advantage.
Jax State (8-16) got on the scoreboard in the home half of the seventh on a RBI single by Stephen Bartlett to score Erik Underwood for the final margin.
Sam Eberle extended his hitting streak to a season-long seven games after finishing with a pair of hits, while Bartlett also added two hits to lead the Gamecocks.
Jakob Nixon led the Trojans with three hits, while Tyler Hannah, Logan Pierce, Collins, Shear and Mathis each finished with two hits.
Jacksonville State returns to Ohio Valley Conference action this weekend with a three-game series at Morehead State. Friday's game is set for 4 p.m., while Saturday's game will begin at 1 p.m. and Sunday at noon. All three games can be heard on the JSU Radio Network with Mike Parris
