JACKSON, Miss. | Jordan McCladdie's for a two-run eighth-inning single helped Jackson State defeat Southern 8-7 in its Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) series opener at Braddy Field on Thursday night.

After leading most of the game, Jackson State (28-19, 15-12 SWAC) fell behind 7-6 after a three-run eighth inning from Southern (23-24, 15-12 SWAC) before the Tigers took the lead back. McCladdie pulled an outside pitch through the right side to score Hederick Torres to tie the game and Pierre Cabral to take the lead. Eric Elliott came out of the bullpen to earn his second save in as many home series with the tying run at second when Joseph Eichelberger made a diving catch in right and throw into second to finish off the double play for the win.

Jordan McCladdie finished 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored, a pair of RBI, and two stolen bases for Jackson State who finished with 12 hits in the win. Eichelberger finished 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored, and Davione Hull finished 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI.

Nkosi Didder (4-3), the third pitcher on the night for the Tigers, earned the win working 1.1 innings allowing three runs on two hits before Elliott came on in the ninth allowing just one hit. Erick Gonzalez worked 6.0 innings in the start allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits with four strikeouts.

How it Happened 

• 1st inning - Jalon Mack lined out to cf, SF, RBI; KJ White scored, Southern 1-0.
• 1st inning - Robert Tate Jr. stole second, advanced to third on the throw; McCladdie stole third, scored on a throwing error by c.  Wilbert Perez singled through the left side, RBI (2-2 SBBF); Tate scored. Hull singled to pitcher, RBI (2-1 BFB); Eichelberger advanced to third; Perez scored, Jackson State 3-1.
• 3rd inning - Mack advanced to second on an error by p, failed pickoff attempt; Jaylon Lucky scored on the throw, unearned, Jackson State 3-2.
• 3rd inning - Hull singled to center field, RBI (2-2 BBKF); Ledy Alvarez advanced to second; Eichelberger scored. Cabral fouled out to lf, SF, RBI (0-0); Torres advanced to second; Hull advanced to third; Alvarez scored, Jackson State 5-2.
• 4th inning - McCladdie stole third, scored on a throwing error by c, unearned, Jackson State 6-2.
• 6th inning - Jacoby Radcliffe homered down the lf line, 2 RBI (2-0 BB); Dominic Joseph scored, Jackson State 6-4.
• 8th inning - White grounded out to 2b, RBI (1-2 FFBF); Radcliffe advanced to third; Joseph scored. Cardell Thibodeaux advanced to second on a wild pitch; Radcliffe scored on a wild pitch. Taj Bates doubled to right center, RBI (1-2 KFFFB); Thibodeaux scored, Southern 7-6.
• 8th inning - McCladdie singled through the right side, 2 RBI (0-0); Cabral scored; Torres scored, Jackson State 8-7.

Up Next
The two teams meet in game two of the series on Friday with a 3 pm first pitch.

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