HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Jacksonville University enters the Atlantic Sun Softball Championship as the No. 5 seed after concluding the regular season with a five-game winning streak. In its most convincing victory yet, backed by a nine-run inning, JU overpowered Northern Kentucky 12-3 Saturday afternoon.  

"It's exciting to get the first conference sweep of the season," said Head Coach Jennifer Steele. "We've been talking about answering the call all season and we did that this weekend. It all started with Blaise in the circle. She did an excellent job of stifling their hitters and our offense gave her great run support. We are peaking at the right time and I'm looking forward to us riding this momentum into the tournament next week."

In the sweep, the Dolphins improved to 28-26 overall and 10-11 in the A-Sun. Six players finished with multiple hits with Brooke Hardy pacing JU's offense with a 3-for-4 performance. Batting leadoff, she added three RBIs while Brooke Smith brought home four.

Smith turned a 2-2 count into a bases-clearing double in the first inning. Singles from Jackie DiPiazza, Lexie Ballard and Emily Sanchez loaded the bases for the Dolphins – the team's ninth straight game where they have had a Fin on each square – and Smith drove the ball to right to bring them all home.

Nine runs in the second marked the most scored in a single inning this season.  NKU went through three pitchers but none could calm the storm as 14 Dolphins made appearances at the plate and Hardy, DiPiazza, Sanchez and Allie McCourt each recorded RBIs.

Blaise Brooks pitched so well in game two she was given the start in JU's regular season finale. She allowed a solo home run in the first before her defense worked out of a bases loaded situation in the bottom of the second. A foul out to Sanchez followed by a double play (third to catcher) limited NKU to just one run in the stanza and it tacked on another in the third.  

Brooks entered this weekend with 1.2 innings of action under her belt. She now has back-to-back wins. In Saturday's complete game of 5.0 innings, she ceded eight hits and three runs (two earned).

The 2015 Atlantic Sun Tournament will be held in Fort Myers, Fla. on the campus of Florida Gulf Coast. No. 5 JU faces intercity rival No. 4 North Florida in the first round of the championship Wednesday, May 6 at 3 p.m.