STATESBORO, Ga. – After claiming a 4-3 lead heading into the seventh inning, the Jacksonville University baseball team was shook by a six-run frame en route to a 9-4 loss on the road. The Dolphins (12-12) return home for a weekend series against Missouri State on Friday, while Georgia Southern improves to 16-11.

The Dolphins picked up where they left off last night in the 13-9 victory over UCF, out of the gate. Driving in four runs through the first four innings, but they were overcome by a 2-RBI single and a Grand Slam in the six-run seventh inning. 

Breaking the 3-3 tie in the fourth, Austin Hays (1-for-3) led off the inning with a single and stole second base, for the 5th time this season. A throwing error would advance and a passed ball would score Hays, after Dillard (0-for-1, 3 BB) drew his second walk of the game and stole second, his fourth. 

Gregory Shannahan would be sent out for his third career-start, 10th outing and dealt 2.1 innings, three earned runs and two strikeouts for 29 on the year. Andrew Ciocia (0-1) would go a career-high 3.1 innings retiring 9-of-15 batters faced and a strikeout but three earned runs in the seventh would tag him with the loss.

The Dolphins would gather three runs in the first two innings, behind RBIs from Angelo Amendolare (0-for-3) and Drew Luther (0-for-1) with sacrifice fly's scoring Cameron Gibson (23rd) and Dillard (5th). Amendolare has recorded an RBI in three-straight games, 23 for the season, while Luther drives in his eighth and has 34 for his career.

After recording his first career-double against UCF, Sam Armstrong (1-for-2) was at it again with an RBI-double to right field, scoring Parker Perez (15th).

The Eagles used five pitchers in the game as Logan Baldwin (1-0) gets the win after three innings of a shutout to close the door.

A LOOK AHEAD 

Jacksonville returns home for a weekend series at John Sessions Stadium where they are 9-7, as Missouri State comes into town beginning Friday, March 27 at 6:30 p.m. After hitting the road for a weekday matchup with Florida A&M Tuesday, March 31, the Dolphins will enter conference play, at home against Lipscomb. 

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