JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Dominating pitching catapults the Jacksonville University baseball team to its third-consecutive conference series win, defeating USC Upstate, 3-1. The final home game concludes for the Dolphins as they honor the six seniors in ceremony prior to the 1 p.m. first pitch from John Sessions Stadium.

Connor Marabell (2-for-4) launched a solo, go-ahead home run in the seventh breaking the 1-1 tie, while Austin Hays (1-for-4) scored two runs in the effort. Senior Justin Russell (3-8) gathers the win for his ninth in a Dolphin uniform after tossing three innings, striking out one and allowing one run.

In a pre-determined start, freshman Spencer Stockton shut down his final 11 batters faced in a four innings pitched shutout and fanned two, while Gregory Shannahan picks up his first-career save in two scoreless innings for a game-high three strikeouts.

With the victory, the Dolphins (25-28; 11-9 A-Sun) have won three-consecutive conference series, and first in Game 2, launching them into a current five seed among the Atlantic Sun standings, with shake-ups to be had in tomorrow's conclusion as the A-Sun regular season concludes.

"We wanted to get our pitching staff some innings prior to the tournament so they stay fresh," said head coach Tim Montez on the performance of his three pitchers tonight. "Stockton, JR (Russell) and Shannahan all had great stuff tonight and we just have to keep plugging away with this momentum heading into the final lap."

The game was paced quickly throughout in the pitcher's duel and breaking the 1-1 tie in the seventh inning would be Marbaell with his sixth home run of the season. 

Battling in the first two at bats against starting pitcher for Upstate, Blake Whitney (3-5) would have the junior sluggers number in the first two at bats, but on the first pitch of his third at bat, there was no doubt as Marabell drove the pitch deep over the right field wall for the go-ahead run in the seventh.

The Dolphins added an insurance run in the same inning with a JJ Gould (1-for-2) RBI single scoring Hays for the final 3-1 score. Nathan Koslowski (1-for-3) tallied a single and Parker Perez (0-for-3) walked in the latter part, but were stranded after Whitney exited the game.

After back-to-back singles to open the game for the Spartans, Stockton would settle in and retire the next 11 batters faced. 

"I was just trying to let my defense work for me." said Stockton, "When you have the defense we do, you just have to let them do what they do best. I just threw strikes and trusted the guys behind me and they made some great plays."

A grounder in the frame would induce a 4-6-3 double play, and it was cruise control from their for the Wellington H.S. product as he would induce four fly-balls, five ground outs and two strike outs.

Jacksonville struck first in the third inning as Perez would plate Hays for his first of two runs scored in the game. 

Russell would strand a runner on base in the fifth and prompt the second double-play of the game, this time a 6-4-3 order, closing out the three innings of one run ball for the senior.

Fellow Episcopal H.S. graduate, Shannahan would take the ball from Russell in the eighth and USC Upstate wouldn't go so quietly. With one on, a double by Jordan Ford and a next pitch hit-batsman would load the bases and the go-ahead run would be on first with one out.

But it was Shannahan that silenced the rally, striking out his first, and forcing a groundout to Gould at short for the big pitch that solidified the win as the freshman would shut down the Spartans in order in the ninth, fanning his third batter to cue the victory music.

Senior Day commences tomorrow in the Dolphins final regular season game as Angelo Amendolare, Garrett Ruckel, Drew Luther, Dylan Dillard, Cameron Gibson and Justin Russell will be recognized for their works in JU uniform prior to first pitch at 1 p.m.

Nathan Disch (2-2) is slated for his fourth-consecutive conference game start.

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