DALLAS (Interstat) — Russ Smith pitched five innings of one-hit relief to lead Dallas Baptist to a 10-6 victory over Jacksonville State in a Conference USA game Friday night at Ellis Davis Field House.

Smith entered in the top of the third inning after Jacksonville State had built a 6-2 lead. He allowed just one hit, struck out four and did not allow an earned run, quieting a Gamecocks offense that had erupted for six runs over the first two and a half innings. The left-hander improved upon his recent outings, which included a loss at Western Kentucky and a no-decision against Louisiana Tech.

The Gamecocks, who entered the game with a 41-13 record, struck first. Jaxon Pate led off the game with a home run to left-center field. Jacksonville State added a run in the second on a sacrifice fly by Trey Majette. In the third, the Gamecocks extended the lead to 6-2. Pate singled, Caleb Johnson singled, Trey King drove in a run with a single, and Brady Thomas and Grayson Ashe each added RBI singles before Dallas Baptist turned to Smith.

Dallas Baptist answered immediately in the bottom of the third. Dylan Cupp singled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Chayton Krauss. Luke Pettitte followed with a solo home run to left field. Later in the inning, Jake Ben delivered a two-run single, Keaton Grady doubled in a run and Mac Rose singled in another, giving the Patriots a 7-6 lead. The inning featured five runs on five hits and a walk.

The Patriots added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Dylan Schlaegel hit a two-run home run to right-center field, scoring Ben Tryon, to make it 9-6. Pettitte tripled to lead off the sixth and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ben to give Dallas Baptist a 10-6 advantage.

Jacksonville State got a solo home run from Brady Thomas in the top of the eighth, but Max Luzarraga, who pitched two innings of relief, limited the damage to just that run. Sam Schmidt pitched a scoreless eighth for the Patriots.

Pettitte finished 3 for 5 with a home run, a triple and an RBI. Schlaegel was 1 for 4 with the two-run homer. For Jacksonville State, Pate went 2 for 4 with a home run and an RBI, and Thomas went 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs.

Jacksonville State starter Jackson Sleeper pitched 3⅔ innings, allowing three earned runs and striking out five despite not allowing a hit. Josh Sibley contributed 1⅓ hitless innings with a strikeout. The Gamecocks fell to 41-14 overall and 21-7 in Conference USA.

Dallas Baptist improved to 32-23 and 15-13 in conference play. The Patriots won the opening game of the series, having defeated Jacksonville State 13-3 on Thursday. The two teams are scheduled to meet again Saturday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Jacksonville State 7, Dallas Baptist 5. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Dallas Baptist with a 64.90 percent probability to win.