DALLAS (Interstat) — Sam Richardson drove in three runs and Grayson Ashe collected three hits and drove in two as Jacksonville State beat Dallas Baptist 13-4 on Saturday evening at Ellis Davis Field House, avoiding a three-game sweep in a Conference USA series.

The Gamecocks improved to 42-13 overall and 20-7 in conference play. The Patriots fell to 31-24 and 15-12.

Jacksonville State erupted for six runs in the first inning, sending nine batters to the plate against Dallas Baptist starter Aiden VanDeHatert and two relievers. The inning featured an RBI single by Ashe, a two-run double by Richardson and a run-scoring groundout that plated an unearned run after a fielding error. Two more walks with the bases loaded forced in additional runs, giving the Gamecocks a 6-0 lead before the Patriots came to bat.

The Gamecocks added three more runs in the third inning. Jaxon Pate walked and scored on a single by Trey King, and a throwing error by the pitcher allowed another run to score. Jacksonville State led 9-0 after three innings.

Dallas Baptist got on the board in the fourth when Luke Pettitte led off with a solo home run to center field off Jacksonville State starter Steven Cash. It was the only hit Cash allowed in five innings, but he also gave up four earned runs, striking out four.

Jacksonville State answered by scoring three runs in the fifth. Brady Thomas hit a two-run homer, his 10th of the season, and Richardson followed with a solo shot to center. The Gamecocks led 12-1.

The Patriots responded in the bottom of the fifth with a three-run homer by Adam Berghult, his 12th, bringing Dallas Baptist within 12-4. Berghult finished 1 for 3 with three RBIs.

Jacksonville State added an unearned run in the sixth when Trey King scored on a fielder’s choice and a throwing error. Ashe homered in the eighth, his third hit of the game, to cap the scoring.

Richardson went 2 for 4 with a double, a home run and three RBIs. Ashe was 3 for 5 with a home run and two RBIs. Thomas drove in two runs.

For Dallas Baptist, catcher Adam Berghult drove in three runs on his homer. Reliever Jared Schaeffer pitched 2.2 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out four.

Maddox McDougall and Ryan Geraghty each threw two scoreless innings out of the Jacksonville State bullpen, with McDougall striking out two and Geraghty striking out two. The Gamecocks’ pitching staff limited the Patriots to four hits.

Jacksonville State scored 13 runs on 13 hits. Dallas Baptist scored four runs on four hits.

The Gamecocks had lost the first two games of the series, 10-6 on Friday and 13-3 on Thursday. Saturday’s victory stopped a two-game skid and kept Jacksonville State in first place in Conference USA.

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 65.70 percent probability to win.