HATTIESBURG, Miss. (Interstat) — Jacksonville State used a four-run second inning and a three-run seventh to build a seven-run lead, then held off a six-run Virginia eighth inning to secure a 7-6 victory Sunday evening at Pete Taylor Park in an NCAA playoff game.

The Gamecocks improved to 48-14, while the Cavaliers fell to 37-23.

Jacksonville State starting pitcher Steven Cash threw seven innings, allowing five hits and three earned runs while striking out 10. He earned the win after a dominant stretch that included a 5-inning, three-earned-run outing against Middle Tennessee and 3 2/3 scoreless innings against Liberty in his previous two appearances.

Cooper Blauser went 4 for 4 with two RBIs and two doubles, the second of which came in the bottom of the seventh inning and drove in two runs to stretch Jacksonville State’s lead to 7-0. Sam Richardson hit a grand slam in the second inning, his ninth home run of the season, to put the Gamecocks ahead 4-0.

Virginia’s bullpen kept the Cavaliers within striking distance. Thomas Stewart threw three scoreless innings with one strikeout, Christian Lucarelli pitched a scoreless inning, and Lucas Hartman struck out two in a scoreless eighth. The Cavaliers trailed 7-0 entering the top of the eighth.

In that inning, Virginia sent 12 batters to the plate and scored six runs on three hits, capitalizing on four walks and a hit batter. Jake Weatherspoon doubled to center field with the bases loaded, clearing the bases with three RBIs. Holmes later added a sacrifice fly, and Eric Becker doubled to left center to drive in two more runs, cutting the deficit to 7-6.

Jacksonville State reliever Josh Sibley pitched a scoreless ninth inning, striking out two, to earn the save. Skyler Hutto allowed one earned run on one hit in one-third of an inning before being replaced by Sibley.

Virginia had seven hits in the game; Jacksonville State had nine.

The Gamecocks also defeated Virginia 15-7 on May 29 in a previous meeting between the two teams.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Jacksonville State 7, Virginia 6. Interstat’s ELO system had given Virginia a 66.00 percent probability to win the game.