KENNESAW, Ga. – Like in last night's victory, the Jacksonville University baseball team grouped five-runs in the last three innings, but it was not enough as Kennesaw State's three-run eighth put Game 2 into the hands of the home team, 9-7. The series concludes Sunday in another Atlantic Sun conference series rubber match slated for 1 p.m.

The Dolphins scored two runs in the ninth inning and had two runners on base with the go-ahead run at the plate in Casey Cribb. Pinch-hitting, the freshman gave it a ride deep to right field, but the ball was caught at the warning track for the final out.

Four Dolphins had multi-hit efforts with Drew Luther (2-3) and Cameron Gibson (2-3) leading the way, reaching base four times each with a pair of walks. Austin Hays (2-4) day included a 2-RBI single, while Sam Armstrong (1-3) homered for the third time this season.

"We might've lost score wise but we've gained so many intangibles in the last couple of days," said head coach Tim Montez. "We really have shown a lot mental toughness."

Down by as many as four in the game, Jacksonville pulled within one in the eighth. A leadoff single by Connor Marabell (who scored the go-ahead run after leading off the ninth last night) and Gibson's second hit of the day—a single through the right side, put two on with nobody out.

Nathan Koslowski was called upon to pinch-hit, a left-on-left matchup as starter Travis Bergen (6-3) was still in the game. A perfect bunt would advance the runners 90 feet with the tying run up to bat in the righty Hays.

Hays drove the pitch to left field, clearing the bases for a two-RBI single. Pinch-hitting, Garrett Ruckel hammered the pitch, but right at first base and with Hays on the move, he would be tagged up to mute the rally.

But the home team would answer, plating three runs in the bottom half behind back-to-back singles by Alex Liquori and Taylor Allum. Justin Russell would escape the bases-loaded jam, stranding three runners on base, limiting the damage.

Russell, who entered in the sixth and finished the game, would throw 2.2 innings, surrendering three earned, fanning two. Starter Spencer Stockton (3-4) induced 11 ground ball outs and surrendered four earned with one strikeout.

"JR (Russell) did very well on the mound for us," said Montez, "He had his best stuff out there today."

Heading to the ninth and down four runs, the Dolphins turned the volume back up, beginning with a leadoff single by JJ Gould (2-4). Seth Dewitt, pinch-hitting, drew the walk and to the plate was the senior in Luther.

Lining his 13th of the year, Luther doubled to right centerfield, scoring Gould. Up next, Angelo Amendolare (1-5) drove in Dewitt for his 39th RBI of the season, advancing Luther to third. 

With two outs, the Georgia-native Gibson would battle to draw a walk on a full count and the go-ahead run was at the plate in pinch-hitter Cribb. 

Cribb would see the 1-1 pitch and drive it to opposite field 350 feet for the final out at the warning track and the rally window was shut.

"Guys coming off the bench are really doing their jobs," said Montez. "Koslowski's bunt, Gibson's 2-out walk, Luther's double the list goes on with well-executed plays. We are competing every pitch, every out and every at bat and we are doing it at the right time of the year."

The Dolphins have an opportunity to win its third conference series in its fifth rubber match where they are 2-2 on the season. The conference championship looms four games away, May 20--where they can clinch a spot with a win tomorrow AND FGCU win against NKU.

Nathan Disch (2-2) is slated for the start tomorrow and will be opposed by RHP Gabe Friese (4-4) with a 1 p.m. first pitch from Stillwell Stadium.

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