GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Former Furman pitcher Jay Jackson recorded his first victory as a professional Wednesday night in helping the Peoria Chiefs to an 8-1 win over the Lansing Lugnuts in Midwest League (Single A) minor league action.

Jackson came on with two outs in the second inning and, with Peoria leading 1-0, pitched 4 1/3 innings of scoreless ball, allowing just two hits and no walks while recording a career high eight strikeouts.  He departed after six frames with Peoria holding a 2-0 lead.

The appearance was his third as a member of the Chiefs after being promoted from the Chicago Cubs’ rookie league affiliate Boise Hawks on July 1.  At Boise he had no record in three appearances, recording a 4.50 earned run average with 14 strikeouts and just one walk in nine innings of work.  Since his move to Peoria, he has posted a 1-0 record and 2.38 ERA over 11 1/3 innings, recording 16 strikeouts with only three walks.

Peoria is currently in first place in the Midwest League Western Division with an 18-8 record.

A first team All-Southern Conference selection for Furman in 2008 and ninth round draft selection by the Cubs, he posted a 9-2 record with a 3.17 earned run average in helping lead the Paladins to a 33-24 overall record and 17-10 third place league finish. The Taylors, S.C, product also earned 40 starts in the field, primarily in the outfield, and batted .336 with eight home runs and team leading 41 RBI this past spring.

Jackson’s solid work at Boise and Peoria has been matched by former teammates and fellow minor league pitchers Mason Smith and Matt Klinker. Smith, a recent free agent signee of the Washington Nationals, has notched a 2-0 record and recorded a pair of saves and 2.84 ERA for the Nationals’ Gulf Coast (Rookie) League squad.  Klinker, meanwhile, is 5-4 with a 3.52 ERA for the Cincinnati Reds’ Midwest League affiliate Dayton Dragons, having recorded wins in his last two starts.