KENNESAW, Ga. – The Jacksonville University baseball team punched its ticket to the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship on Sunday by capturing a third league series with a 12-8 victory over reigning champion, Kennesaw State.

Parker Perez (5-for-6) led the charge reaching base in all six attempts, marking the first time since 2011 a Dolphin hitter tallied five hits (Gulbransen, vs. Campbell) in a single game. Drew Luther (2-for-3) RBI, Cameron Gibson (2-for-4) RBI, and JJ Gould (2-for-5) all added multi-for-hit efforts as well for the victors.

Gregory Shannahan (5-2) notches his second win in the series after going three innings and surrendering two runs with two strikeouts. Starter Nathan Disch went four innings, striking out a game-for-high four batters, while Andrew Ciocia recorded his first-save to close the door. 

"We made so many strides within ourselves this weekend," said head coach Tim Montez. "Everyone is contributing and we are playing some of the best ball all year and it's coming at the right time. We have to make sure we finish strong and carry that momentum into the conference tournament."

With the win, the Dolphins (23-28; 9-9 A-Sun) claim back-to-back conference series for the first time this season. Kennesaw State (26-24; 9-8) locked up a position in the tournament with the win in Game 2.

Jacksonville got off to a jolt to open the rubber match plating seven runs in the first two innings. After a pair of doubles from Perez (4th) and Gibson (11th), Austin Hays (1-for-4) drove in his fifth RBI of the series with a single into right field to begin the first. 

It took three innings, but the visitors were held scoreless in the fourth. A three-run sixth inning would put the game out of reach. After a one out walk issued to Hays, Garrett Ruckel (1-for-4) drove a deep ball to the alley in right-for-center field for a run scoring double. 

The Dolphin pitching unit would give up 17 hits in the game, but stranded 11 runners on base in some big time outs, including the ninth—where the tying run was on deck.

Jacksonville ends its road regular season slate of games winners of four-out of-six in away conference games. For the season, Montez' squad was 8-14 on the road with seven of those wins coming against A-Sun opponents.

The return home is met by a midweek matchup with South Florida on Tuesday, followed by the final home-series of 2015 with USC Upstate in for a Thursday, Friday and Saturday set. 

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