KENNESAW, Ga. (Interstat) — Steven Cash pitched five shutout innings with eight strikeouts and Jacksonville State defeated Middle Tennessee 9-3 Thursday afternoon at Fred Stillwell Stadium.

Cash allowed no hits and three earned runs, striking out eight. He improved to 43-13 for the Gamecocks, who took a 1-0 lead in the first on a fielder’s choice RBI.

Middle Tennessee got a solo homer from Brett Vondohlen in the third, but Jacksonville State answered with a sacrifice fly in the fourth. Cooper Clapp’s two-run homer in the bottom half tied the game at 3-all.

The Gamecocks broke it open in the sixth. Trey King singled home Brady Thomas, then Cooper Blauser doubled in King. Jacksonville State added four more in the ninth, capped by a two-run double from Thomas and a run-scoring double from King.

Jacksonville State had 13 hits to Middle Tennessee’s six. The Gamecocks grounded into three double plays. Chandler Alderman took the loss for the Blue Raiders, allowing five hits and three earned runs in 5 1-3 innings. Clapp went 3-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs.

Relievers Chase Horst, Jackson Sleeper and Josh Sibley combined for 3 1-3 scoreless innings. Middle Tennessee fell to 26-31.