JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville University baseball team rallied to force extras in game one, but fell in the opening-two games of the weekend series against Missouri State, 12-6 and 6-0. The Dolphins (12-14) look to mark in Game 3 slated for 1 p.m. Sunday at John Sessions Stadium. The game can be viewed live on ESPN3.

For the first time in 2015, the Dolphins were held scoreless. Eight hits for the day all left stranded as the Dolphins dropped its third straight game, but can gather two wins in a seven day span with Game 3 tomorrow.

"Missouri State is a very disciplined team that have great approaches at the plate," said head coach Tim Montez. "We've got to get up off the mat and come back tomorrow to grind out and find a way to get a win and come out on the positive side with conference play vastly approaching this weekend."

Parker Perez made his first start since early 2014, the junior slugger did his job—4 IP, 1 ER forcing eight groundouts with just one extra base hit against him. 

"It felt nice to get back out there and pound the zone," said Parker of just his second appearance on the mound this season, "just throwing strikes and getting back to my normal self. I felt like Luther was reading my mind and we were on the same page which allowed me to focus on making those pitches without shaking any off."

Perez has spent most of the season on the offensive side with 16 hits, a double and nine RBI for a .267 average—even being in the lineup in center field for Game 1 of the series, with no quick preparation time for switching mindsets.

"It's mainly just going out there and trusting in your work and preparation," said centerfielder/pitcher Perez. "Confidence in those aspects, you don't really think you just do when you are out there." 

"Parker did exactly what we needed him to do," said Montez of the performance from his normal centerfielder. "That was a real shot in the arm for our ball club."

On the opposing side, Jon Harris moves to 3-0 on the season, throwing eight frames of a shutout with six strikeouts. Blake Graham and Dylan Becker were responsible for driving in two runs apiece.

An opportunity to get to Harris came in the sixth inning when JJ Gould (2-for-4) knocked his fourth double of the season to centerfield, but from then three straight batters were set down in order. 

Angelo Amendolare (2-for-4) and Connor Marabell (1-for-4) would tag back-to-back two out singles in the opening inning, for Amendolare's 12th hit in eight games, 38 for season, and Marabell's 21-of-26 games with a hit, 33 for the year. 

The Dolphins Game 3 against the Bears of Missouri State commences tomorrow with a 1 p.m. pitch with a simulcast on 92.5 FM and ESPN3.

GAME 1 RECAP

Game 1 was suspended last night due to darkness, so the ninth inning would be picked up Saturday afternoon. Down 6-4, the bats rallied to knot the effort at six apiece. Beginning with a one out double from Cameron Gibson, the Dolphins would plate two behind the RBIs from Connor Marabell and Austin Hays. 

Missouri State would come to bat in the 10th and would face Nathan Disch—who entered the game with a 1.86 ERA. Having never been charged with a balk in 47.1 innings pitched in his career, Disch was suspect of the first, advancing the go-ahead run to second base. 

Disch would force a groundout for the first out of the inning and with runners on second and third, Disch would be charged with another balk, scoring the go-ahead run and the Bears would tack on from there, plating six in the inning.  

The Dolphins would strike first in the game as Marabell would drive a single into right field and score off Austin Hays' third triple of the season and second in three games. Subsequently, Hays would score on a miscue by the Bears fielding core.

Up to bat in the sixth with a double already in the game, Drew Luther (2-for-3) slammed his second double this one the 2-RBI variety, into leftfield, scoring Dylan Dillard (1-for-3) who singled in the frame and Hays who walked.

Freshman Michael Baumann (3-0), in his seventh start of the season, delivered five strikeouts—seventh consecutive five K's or more game—and surrendered five runs and remains unblemished.

@JUBaseball | #FearTheFin