HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – League results have played out in the Jacksonville University softball team's favor and for the first time since the 2012 season the Dolphins have clinched a berth in the Atlantic Sun Tournament. The question now for JU and first-year head coach Jennifer Steele will be seeding. After defeating Northern Kentucky 8-5 and 4-2 in Friday's doubleheader, Saturday's outcome will determine whether the Fins enter the tourney as the No. 5 or No. 6 seed.
Jacksonville 8, Northern Kentucky 5
The Norse hopped out to an early 2-0 edge in the first inning while the Dolphins' mum bats began to make noise in the third. Brooke Hardy's RBI-single served as the catalyst for JU's five-run inning where it loaded the bases twice on six hits, a walk and a hit batter.
Victoria Brown went on to sit down five straight Norse hitters before the home team put two in scoring position in the fourth. NKU plated a run but trailed 7-3 as the Dolphins added a pair of runs in the earlier half.
Both teams used the long ball in the sixth and it would stamp their offensive efforts for the game. Ashley Simon's solo homer to left, she now ties for second on the team with seven, and NKU's 2-RBI shot concluded the game's scoring despite Hardy tallying a triple in the seventh.
Solid plays by Lexie Ballard which included a diving grab setup Taylor Rossman to close the game and she ended it on a pop up to second.
Brown pitched 6.2 innings, surrendering eight hits and five runs with four strikeouts.
Ballard went 3-for-4 with two RBIs.
Jacksonville 4, Northern Kentucky 2
Ballard's spectacular day at the plate continued in game two when she recorded a two-out double to left in the first inning. Big swings from Simon and Emily Sanchez kept the Dolphins' momentum going and before the third out was recorded the Fins posted a 2-0 advantage.
Blaise Brooks received her first career start from Coach Steele and immediately preceded to strike out the Norse's leadoff batter looking. NKU's next hitter solo homered to center field but Brooks' confidence never wavered as she closed the frame on a fly out and another backward K.
"I just told myself that I could do this," said Brooks. "I wanted to treat this like any other game I've thrown in the past. Today was great."
A Jacksonville error allowed the Norse to tie the game at 2-2. On the same play, the team would have had runners on first and second with two outs but Brooke Smith closed the inning catching a Norse stealing third. Smith has caught 15 runners stealing this season with 11 occurring in conference play. She caught a pair in game two alone.
Sanchez regained the Dolphins' lead in the third with a solo home run down the left field line and the score remained 3-2 until the sixth when Hardy stepped up to the plate with runners on the corners. She grounded out to the short stop but was credited an RBI as Kristen Griffith made the short trek from third.
Brooks' appearance in the circle concluded with 4.2 innings pitched. She allowed three hits and two runs while striking out four in the win. Rossman earned the save with 2.1 innings, allowing two hits and no runs.
Tomorrow marks Jacksonville's regular season finale. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
