JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – For the first time in an opening series game in Atlantic Sun play, the Jacksonville University baseball team didn't win as they fell to Stetson 7-4 on Friday night. The three-game set continues at John Sessions Stadium Saturday for a 6 p.m. start where it will host Arlington Day with free admission to all patrons.

The Dolphins (18-22; 4-6 A-Sun) were 3-0 on conference series openers entering Friday, a big reason why has been the play of starter Michael Baumann (5-1) who was pegged with his first loss in 11 starts this season. Jordan Mitchell (4-1) held the lineup in check with 7.1 innings and four strikeouts.

Jacksonville would strike first when in the opening frame with two outs, back-to-back singles by Angelo Amendolare (2-for-4) and Connor Marabell (2-for-4) would set the table for two with Austin Hays (1-for-4) driving the ball into right field for the 2-RBI single giving Baumann and Co. a 2-0 lead. 

Baumann would work through 3.2 innings of perfection before the Hatters notched their first hit of the game in the fourth, a single to right field, but would escape five innings undamaged. Dylan Dillard (0-for-2) knotted his 15th RBI of the season with a sacrifice fly into left field, scoring Hays and the Dolphins were in control heading into the fifth, 3-0.

Back-to-back singles by the Hatters would open the inning and Baumann encountered his first threat. Striking out his fourth batter for the second out of the inning, the Hatters would rally to tie the game capping the frame with a 2-RBI double by Cory Reid.

Three more runs and traffic in the sixth, the Dolphins would turn to fellow freshman Gregory Shannahan to get out of the inning. The Jacksonville native was stellar, pitching out of a bases-loaded jam. In total, Shannahan would craft 2.1 innings of three hit baseball, striking out three and stranding seven runners on base.

Not going away quietly, the Dolphins rallied a run in the eighth to close the gap. Drew Luther (2-for-4) led off the inning with a single and up to the plate was Amendolare. Driving the pitch, deep to right-center field, Amendolare secured the double and was caught trying to stretch it into a triple. Marabell, Hays and the ninth would go quietly thereafter and Stetson would tack an insurance run—closing the door was Tyler Warmoth for his seventh save of the season.

The Dolphins return to John Sessions Stadium tomorrow night where they will host Arlington Day with free admission after graduation celebration commence earlier in the day. 6 p.m. is the first pitch due to impending weather pushing the start time from 4 p.m.

A LOOK AHEAD

Jacksonville remains at home against Georgia Southern on Tuesday before heading out on an eight-game road swing with Northern Kentucky next weekend and a two game set at Florida International May 5-6 with the final road conference series at Kennesaw State, May 8-10. 

@JUBaseball | #FearTheFin