JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville University's softball team used a late inning comeback in Game 1 and a shutout in Game 2 to sweep its doubleheader against Florida A&M Wednesday at the Debbie and Fred Pruitt Softball Complex.
"We've been working hard these past few weeks and finally pieced it together tonight," said Head Coach Jennifer Steele. "To get the come-from-behind win in game one and throw a shutout in game two, you can't ask for much more as a coach."
Senior pitcher Victoria Brown won Game 1 in a relief appearance and then shut out the Rattlers in Game 2 to collect her 13th win of the season. Sophomore shortstop Danielle Baker had several huge defensive plays and hit three home runs; one in the first game and two in the second.
"We had some great individual performances," continued Steele. "Danielle was not only on fire offensively, but she was clutch up the middle, making every routine play and a lot of difficult ones as well. [Emily Sanchez] also hit the ball really hard in game one and [Kamille Larrabee] did a great job behind the plate, both controlling their run game and working hard with the pitching staff."
Jacksonville 8, Florida A&M 6
FAMU got off to a quick start in the first game, loading the bases and then immediately clearing them on a grand slam by Keny Pereira. But JU responded in the bottom of the second with a Sanchez homer that drove in Baker. After one inning Jacksonville trailed Florida A&M 2-4.
In the second inning the Rattlers struck again, collecting two runs on an RBI-single with runners on second and third. The Dolphins couldn't respond this time, and after two innings Jacksonville trailed 2-6.
Paige Curtis and Victoria Brown shut down the Rattlers' bats for the rest of the game, allowing five hits and no runs between the two veteran pitchers. And the Dolphins were able to get back in the game in the bottom of the fifth when Baker hit a solo homer, Sanchez doubled up the middle to drive Brown across, and Jordan Daniels hit a two-run bomb to score herself and Adrienne Ramsay. After five innings the score was tied 6-6.
Jacksonville completed the comeback in the bottom of the sixth with a two RBI double by Brown with one out. After six innings Jacksonville lead Florida A&M 8-6.
The Rattlers pinch hit to open the seventh inning and got a single, then advanced the runner to second on a groundout to Brown. But Brown forced a line drive to second and a groundout to second to strand the runner, giving JU the 8-6 victory in the first game.
Jacksonville 4, Florida A&M 0
Brown went back to work in the second game, sitting down the first three batters. Baker gave the Dolphins a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first with a leadoff homer. After one inning the Dolphins led the Rattlers 1-0.
Florida A&M was shut out the rest of the game, collecting just three hits through seven innings. Jacksonville scored its second run in the third on an RBI walk of Jacqueline Hodskins, got its third run of the game in the fourth inning on Baker's third homer of the day, and drove a fourth run across in the fifth with an RBI double from Heather Roberts. Jacksonville defeated the Rattlers 4-0.
"We're going to enjoy tonight and have a quick turnaround to get prepared for UNF this weekend," concluded Steele. "It's about peaking at the right time, and I'm really proud of how our squad is doing that."
Down the Road
The Dolphins host North Florida in a three-game series Saturday and Sunday, then heads back out on the road for a doubleheader at Savannah State on April 19 and a three-game series at Stetson on April 23 & 24. Jacksonville wraps up the regular season May 6 & 7 at home in a three-game series against Florida Gulf Coast.
Fans can follow all the action from the 2015-16 season on JUDolphins.com, through twitter @JUSoftball, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JacksonvilleUniversityAthletics.
