Senior Taylor Shields allowed just one hit in eight innings to lead Jacksonville State to a 5-1 win over Murray State as the Gamecocks won the Ohio Valley Conference series over the ‘Breds.
The Gamecocks improve to 21-14 overall and 11-4 in the OVC, while Murray State falls to 15-18 and 9-9 in the league. It was the first time under Jim Case the Gamecocks tossed a nine-inning one-hitter, and the first one-hitter since April 30, 2011, when the Gamecocks defeated SIU Edwardsville 4-0 after allowing one hit in a seven-inning game.
Shields (4-3) threw 95 pitches and allowed a double to the second batter of the game, before not allowing another hit after striking out six batters to earn his fourth win of the season. Connor Metcalf and Travis Stout recorded the final three outs after Shields was lifted in the ninth inning. Murray State’s Sheldon Baxter (1-3) gave up four runs on eight hits to suffer the loss for the ‘Breds.
The Gamecocks took the early lead in the second inning after Stephen Bartlett extended his hitting streak to 17 games after leading off with a double. Andrew Bishop followed with a single to score Bartlett. Bishop and Tyler Gamble later scored on a Murray State error as the Gamecocks took a 3-0 lead.
Jax State added a run in the sixth inning after Bishop reached on a one-out double and scored on Gambl’s RBI single for a 4-0 lead.
Eddie Mora-Loera scored a run in the seventh inning on an infield grounder to extend the lead to 5-0, before Murray State scored in the top of the ninth inning for the final margin.
Gamble finished 3-for-4, while Bartlett, Bishop and Gordon each had a pair of hits to lead the Gamecocks’ 11-hit attack. Anthony Bayus got the lone hit for Murray State.
Jacksonville State returns to action with a three-game series at preseason No. 1 Tennessee Tech this weekend. Thursday and Friday’s games will begin at 6 p.m., while Saturday’s series finale is scheduled for 2 p.m.