WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - In a back-and-forth affair through the first half of the game, Jacksonville State (12-5) took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth inning and held on for a 5-2 victory versus Bradley (9-6) Wednesday afternoon at Chain of Lakes Park in the RussMatt Baseball 2011 Central Florida Invitational.

The Gamecocks roughed up Bradley starter Joe Bircher (2-2) for five runs on eight hits in his 6.0 innings.  Jacksonville State starter Bradley Raulston (2-0) allowed both Braves runs on four hits in 5.0 innings to earn the win, while a pair of JSU relievers combined for 4.0 shutout innings to preserve the win.

The Braves grabbed the early lead, jumping ahead 1-0 in the top of the second when designated hitter Brad Kimball led off with a double and scored on David Compitello's 1-out single.  Jacksonville State answered with two runs in the bottom of the second, however, taking advantage of three singles and a throwing error by third baseman Rob Elliott.

Bradley tied the game, 2-2, with one more run in the fourth, but failed to capitalize on a potential bigger inning.  Leftfielder Mike Tauchman extended his hitting streak to eight games with a 1-out single, and after Kimball followed with a walk, Tauchman advanced to third on a passed ball.  He scored on Jerrod Eigsti's sacrifice fly.  Compitello followed with a single to left center that pushed Kimball around to third, but the inning ended when Jason Leblebijian popped out.

The Gamecocks had the immediate answer, scoring the go-ahead run in the home half of the fourth.  After Bircher gave up consecutive 1-out walks, Scott Underwood made him pay with an RBI single down the right field line.  Jacksonville State then got a pair of insurance runs in the fifth.

The Braves loaded the bases with one out against Jacksonville State reliever Tanner Freshour on singles by Tauchman and Kimball and a walk to Eigsti, but could not score when Compitello popped out and Leblebijian flew out.

Bradley will play its sixth game in the RussMatt Baseball 2011 Central Florida Invitational and will try to halt its 2-game skid when the Braves take on North Dakota State Thursday morning.