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JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Jacksonville State rallied in the middle innings to beat Eastern Illinois, 6-4, on Friday night in the opener of a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series.

EIU fell to 0-15 overall, 0-4 in the OVC.  JSU improved to 10-8, 3-4 in the OVC.  Due to weather expected to hit the Jacksonville area on Sunday the two schools will play a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Panthers took an early lead with runs in the first and second innings against JSU starter Zachary Fowler (3-2).  Cale Hennemann came around to score in the first as Brant Valach reached on an infield error.  Adam Casson scored in the second on a sacrifice bunt by John Devito.

JSU close the gap in the third with an RBI single by Paschal Petrongolo.  The Gamecocks took the lead 3-2 in the fourth with an RBI single by Peyton Williams and RBI double by Hayden White.

Demetre Taylor tied the game for Panthers in the fifth with an RBI single that scored Hennemann.  Taylor finished the day 3-for-5 with two RBI.

Petrongolo gave JSU the lead for good in the fifth with an RBI double.  Petrongolo finished the day 3-of-5 for JSU.  Ryan Serba tacked on another run in the fifth with a single and the Gamecocks added an insurance run in the sixth.  Matt Wivinis (0-4) suffered the loss for EIU.

Taylor drove in his second run of the day for EIU in the seventh. 

Fowler picked up the win on the mound for JSU while Travis Stout pitched a scoreless ninth to collect his third save of the year.  

"It was a good game tonight," said head coach Jim Schmitz.  "We just did not get a big hit.  Those hits will come."