Jacksonville, Fla. – Securing a No. 4 seed in the upcoming Atlantic Sun conference championship, the Jacksonville University baseball team swept USC Upstate on Saturday afternoon on Senior Day. The Dolphins will face Stetson on May 20 at 3 p.m. in Fort Myers to open the conference championship.

Connor Marabell (1-for-3) had three RBI on the day for six in the series. He went 6-for-11 (.545) with a HR and three doubles for a slugging percentage of 1.091. while Nathan Disch (3-2) picked up his third conference win in a pre-determined three innings pitched striking out two.

The men of the hour shined on senior day as four Dolphin seniors all had hits with multi-hit afternoons for Drew Luther (2-for-4), Angelo Amendolare (2-for-4) and Cameron Gibson (2-for-4). They all plated at least one run, while Dylan Dillard (1-for-3) notched an RBI double in the seventh. 

Garrett Ruckel (0-for-3) didn't reach base, but had a sacrifice bunt to start the three run fourth inning, and managed a pitching staff of six with brilliance.

"It was a great way for the seniors to go out," said head coach Tim Montez. "They've been the cornerstone of this program this year and where we are headed in the future on and off the field. It also is great for us to sweep and take momentum into the conference tournament."

Beginning the series, the Dolphins (26-28; 12-9 A-Sun) were in the No. 6 seed and with the sweep, vault into the No. 4 seed having swept a conference opponent for the first time this season. They carry the momentum of three-straight conference victories and a 8-2 last 10 conference games into the postseason.

Austin Hays (1-for-4) hit .400 for the series with a double and two walks, while Nathan Koslowski (1-for-3) battled in a nine-pitch at bat to single in the first inning. He would eventually tally a run in the fourth inning after walking, off the bat of Amendolare.

The Dolphins six-pitchers in the game would not be attributed with either of the runs scored, as Parker Perez, Michael Babb and Ryan Quintero would combined four innings of shutout basesball with Quintero striking out one and Perez stranding three Spartans on base.

Shane Wise recorded his third save of the season, all against conference opponents in one and a third shutout innings pitched.

"We are going to play it one game at a time," said Montez of the hot finish in the regular season heading into playoffs. "We are peaking at the right time and playing well. But as (Connor Marabell) said, it's not how you start, it's how you finish. "It's exciting for these guys to be back in the conference tournament and do our best to head into an NCAA Regional Berth."

The Dolphins are off to Fort Myers to compete in the Atlantic Sun conference championship beginning Wednesday, May 20 in double-elimination format. The winner gathers an automatic bid into NCAA Regionals.

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