TAMPA, Fla. – For the third consecutive year, the Jacksonville University softball won its season opener, after defeating Hampton University, 9-1 on Friday afternoon. The Dolphins will continue their set at the USF Tournament with Illinois State, first pitch slated for 1:15 today from Gonzmart Family Complex.
Jacksonville records first win of 2015 on opening day after scoring nine runs on 10 hits.
"We hit well from top to bottom," said first year head coach Jennifer Steele. "We were able to put together hits with two outs. We did a good job getting the lead-off hitter on base and starting innings and finishing innings."
The hits came early, often and in packs as there were five extra base hits including junior Victoria Brown recording her 16th home run of her career with a deep-drive to center field 230 feet out to extend the fins lead to 6-0.
Brown was superb on the rubber for the entirety, hurling a no-hitter through five and one-third innings while delivering at the dish with a solo-home run in the fourth inning, and scored four runs.
"We had really solid defense and all the work we put in during the offseason was an emphasis on defense," said Steele. "VB (Victoria Brown) pitched really great, she did a good keeping the ball out of the air. I can't recall hits that were hit really solid. She did a great job sawing off batters and changing speeds."
A couple of freshmen fared well in the effort as Danielle Baker captained the defense at shortstop and supplied on offense recording a triple and two RBI, while Brooke Hardy went 1-for-3 while swiping a bag.
The day began with an early 2-0 lead in the first inning when Lee stole second after getting on by a hit-by-pitch to begin the first inning. With two outs, senior Ashley Simon sent one to centerfield that held its' carry over the center fielders head scoring junior Sable Lee and Brown—who was on-base after walking.
The first Hampton run came in the sixth inning, when with one out and runners on second and third, Hampton hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring a runner from third. Brown was able to escape with minimal damage after a fly out for the third out to right field.
Another Hampton threat came in the fifth inning Brown surrendered her first hit of the game, the senior was able to force a groundout—advancing the runners to 2nd and 3rd—then a slow roller was collected by Sanchez for the third out.
With two outs, Sanchez singled to left scoring Brown from second, pushing the lead to 5-to-0 in the top of the third inning. Brown continued her stellar pitching afternoon surrendering no hits, no runs through three innings of softball.
The Dolphins continued the offensive onslaught with two runners on and two outs on the scoreboard. Baker drove a two-strike pitch down the line scoring Sanchez and Hardy resulting in a triple for the freshman from Clearmont, Fla.
The Dolphins continue in short moments with Illinois State.
