JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After rain forced double-header action to commence on Sunday, the Jacksonville University baseball team split the days games with the Dolphins (19-23; 5-7) claiming Game 3, 10-2. The Hatters (23-22; 8-4 A-Sun) captured the Game 2 victory 8-5 after a three-run homerun in the ninth.
Angelo Amendolare (3-for-4) led the Dolphin lineup that had three multi-hit efforts in Game 3 and RHP Nathan Disch would gather the win in his first-career start, going a career-high 5.2 innings and surrendering two earned runs with two strikeouts. The Wisconsin native pitched four straight shutout innings after giving up a first inning homerun.
In the first game of the double-header Sunday, second of the conference series, RHP Spencer Stockton also went a career-high 6.2 innings, while all the Dolphin starters recorded multi-hit games with Amendolare (2-for-5) and Drew Luther (2-for-4) the driving force with two RBI apiece.
"We found two starting pitchers today and had a chance to win both games," said head coach Tim Montez of the young starters in the double header. "With that, it gives us the opportunity out of the gate offensively to grab early leads, but we still have some pieces to put together on the back end of the bullpen."
With Atlantic Sun sanctions of a seven-inning game in the latter of a double header, the Dolphins came out of the gate firing on all cylinders, putting a 10-spot on the board after a big, five-run sixth.
Breaking the four inning tie, JJ Gould (2-for-3) would double for the second time of the afternoon, advancing Nathan Koslowski (1-for-2), who reached by an error, to third. Parker Perez (1-for-4) drove the ball into right field for his fourth hit in two games and the RBI and two more runs would score by way of two Hatters errors in the frame.
The Hatters used five pitchers in the shortened game, but could not silence the Dolphin bats and the five-run sixth would put the game out of reach. Amendolare, Cameron Gibson (1-for-3) 2 RBI, Koslowski, Gould and Alex Seifert would all single in the inning en route to the tallies.
Shane Wise would use three fly-outs in the top of the seventh to close the game for his first-career save. Connor Marabell went 3-for-9 on the day with an RBI and a run scored, while Perez went 3-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in game one of the double header.
GAME 1 of the DH
The Dolphins battled in attempt to even the series after the Hatters claimed the opening game win on Friday. The Hatters would lead through five innings, 3-1 until a three run fifth by the guys' in the home-whites would reclaim the lead. Led by a JJ Gould leadoff double and RBIs from Amendolare and Luther, the Dolphin lead would not wither until a two run seventh by Stetson knotted the effort.
Stockton would work his way around the Hatter lineup until traffic in the seventh, the freshman hadn't allowed a base-runner in two innings prior, and just three hits from the third inning on. Gregory Shannahan entered in relief and limited the damage to the two runs, and would go on to shut down the lineup to no runs in eighth, stranding four in 1.1 innings pitched for the Episcopal high school standout.
A leadoff double by Vance Vizcaino started the ninth and after a sacrifice bunt advanced the go-ahead run to third, Montez and Co. elected the free-pass to Patrick Mazeika to allow for a force at second and a chance at a double-play ball with one out in the inning.
That would lead to a three-run homerun by the DH John Fussell who was 3-for-9 in the series, but 0-for-4 on the day, before the at-bat with the righty Josh Powers who was 0-for-3.
"From the beginning of the year, I told these guys to hold themselves accountable on and off the field, said Montez said of the matchup with Fussell. "I feel like I mismanaged the situation and should've walked the bases-loaded, I need to make sure I put these guys in a better position to succeed."
JU would claw back and have the tying run at the plate beginning with a one-out single by Marabell and a walk by Gibson, but the Hatters would close the door on the threat. Justin Russell (2-7) would be tagged with the loss.
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.
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