JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Jacksonville State swept a doubleheader Saturday, defeating SIUE 3-1, and 4-0 in the first two games of a college baseball series at Rudy Abbott Field.

SIUE, 18-21, got strong pitching but couldn't manage much at the plate.

"Our pitching was fine," SIUE Head Coach Gary Collins said. "Our offense was non-existent."

Travis Felax, 3-2, tossed his first career complete game in the opener. He allowed three runs, two earned, on four hits and struck out five. Josh Malin dropped to 4-3 with the loss in game two. Malin also tossed the complete game. He allowed the four runs on eight hits and struck out one.

"They both pitched really well," Collins said of his pitchers. "They pitched good enough to win with even a little run support. They just didn't get that run support."

Travis Becherer had the only RBI for the day for SIUE. Becherer drove in the run for the Cougars in the fifth inning of game one with a sacrifice fly. Brett Keeler scored on the play after reaching on an error to start the inning. Becherer finished 1 for 3.

Jacksonville State, 27-14, scored all three of its runs on three hits in the fourth inning.

In game two, Devin Caldwell managed the Cougars' lone hit against the Gamecocks' Hunter Rivers. Rivers improved to 8-1 with the complete game victory. He struck out three.

Caldwell was 1 for 3 in the loss. Jake Sharrock and Scott Underwood each had two hits and an RBI for Jacksonville State in the nightcap.

Jacksonville State came into the series leading the Ohio Valley Conference standings. Collins said he believes the Cougars can play with the best in the OVC.

"They were better than us," admitted Collins. "But they're not head and shoulders ahead of us."

The Cougars and Gamecocks will complete the three-game series Sunday. Senior Spencer Patton will toe the rubber for the Cougars.

"I always feel good with Spencer pitching," Collins said.

First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.