JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A sixth-inning rally in game one and a two-hit debut from freshman right-hander Seana Mora gave Jacksonville softball a sweep of visiting Delaware State, Wednesday afternoon. The Dolphins earned a 7-3 victory in game one and needed only five innings to win 9-0 in game two at Debbie & Fred Pruitt Softball Complex.

The Dolphins improve to 13-9 overall, while the Hornets fall to 1-10.

Game One

Jacksonville scored four decisive runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to earn a 7-3 victory in game one against the Hornets. Ten hits, including five in the bottom of the sixth, highlighted the Dolphins' offensive campaign.

Carolyn O'Neal led off the bottom of the frame with a double into left field for her second hit of the game. Makenzie Buss followed with a single up the middle for the game-clinching RBI and advanced to second on the throw. A bunt up the first base line from Allie McCourt allowed Buss to score from second. Danielle Baker then drove in McCourt for a 6-3 Dolphin advantage. The final run of the inning came on a Madison Ragan single into left center that brought in Baker.

Jacksonville drove in two runs in the fourth and an RBI blooper into the gap between the Hornet third baseman and left fielder from Kristen Griffith in the fifth gave Jacksonville a 3-0 lead heading into the sixth inning.

Two Dolphin errors in the top of the sixth allowed Delaware State to get three runs across the plate and knot the game at 3-3.

"There were little things that we've talked about that can seem like bad luck, but if you are giving people extra opportunities, making errors, not finishing plays, and issuing free passes, it can turn into a big inning," added Head Coach Jennifer Steele. "I'm really happy with the fight we showed in the sixth and the competitiveness we showed late."

Taylor Thorpe threw her first complete game of the season to improve to 6-2 in the circle.

Game Two

Freshman pitcher Seana Mora earned the nod to start game two and tossed a two-hitter in her collegiate debut. Mora faced just 17 batters in the five-inning affair, including the minimum in the first, third, and fifth.

"I was nervous, but we've been doing a bunch of work and I just had to trust the process," said Mora. "My job as a pitcher is to get ground balls and pop ups. That was my big focus; I know I have defense behind me to make the plays. I knew if I could keep the ball out of play as little as possible or get the ground balls and pop ups, then the job would get done."

Two big innings were all the Dolphins needed to down the Hornets.

Jacksonville scored four in the bottom of the first after O'Neal drove in Baker on a single into right field. Jordan Daniels then flexed her muscles with two outs and hit a bomb over the left center wall for a three-run homer, her first of the season, to give the Green and White an early 4-0 lead.

"The goal we had going into the second game was to celebrate winning pitches and getting walks," Steele continued. "We didn't swing at very many pitches out of the zone; that was a big thing that led to hard-hit balls. We were very disciplined in the zone in game two."

Jacksonville added five more runs in the bottom of the fourth to put the game out of reach. A double steal from Jones and McCourt gave the Dolphins base runners on second and third with no outs. Roberts drove in both on a single into left center for a 6-0 JU lead.

Ciara Jones got home on a fielding error, followed by a two-run double by Griffith. Griffith then crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly out from Daniels for the final 9-0 Dolphin advantage. Mora allowed the Jacksonville defense to seal the win with three consecutive outs in the top of the fifth.

Steele credits Mora's success on the mound with her resilience in staying motivated.

"[Mora] is working hard every day in the bullpen; she's gotten much better than her last outing. Sometimes it's difficult to stay motivated when you're not getting your name called, but she works hard every day and it showed."

Mora improves to 1-0 with her first complete game on the mound. "It feels good," added Mora. "The energy wasn't forced. It was created and it kept going, especially after we started scoring."

Griffith led the Dolphins at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three RBI and three walks. O'Neal finished 3-for-6 with two RBI, a double, and a stolen base, while Daniels added a 2-for-2 performance with a team-leading four RBI.

The Dolphins return to action Saturday, March 11 when they play host to Cleveland State and St. Bonaventure for the 2017 Green & Gold Classic. Tournament play begins at 9:30 am with Cleveland State and St. Bonaventure, followed by Jacksonville's first game of the tournament against Cleveland State at 12:00 p.m.