JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Behind a gutty pitching effort from Chris Gau and multi-hit nights from six different Dolphins, Jacksonville University baseball beat Fairfield 7-3 on Friday night at John Sessions Stadium.
JU (11-8) won its third straight series opening contest and snapped a three-game losing streak with the win over the Stags (4-9).
"Gau did a really good job of competing," said Head Coach Chris Hayes. "It was nice to see the offense put together some really good at bats and drive the baseball."
Both teams put men on early, but both Jacksonville starter Gau (3-2) and Fairfield starter Trey McLoughlin were at their best with runners on. Gau stranded a runner in scoring position in each of the first three innings, and McLoughlin did the same in three of the first four.
JU did manage one run in the second, when Franco Guardascione reached on a fielder's choice with two outs and came home when Connor Stephens laced an opposite field double to left.
That was all the scoring until the fifth, when Chris Lehane dropped a bunt single down the line to third and a throwing error allowed him to advance all the way to third with one out. Scott Dubrule walked and two batters later, Angel Camacho drilled his first career triple to right center, scoring both Lehane and Dubrule and extending JU's lead to 3-0.
The Dolphins added another in the sixth, when Stephens again clubbed a double to left center scoring Guardascione, and ended McLoughlin's night. JU then made it 6-0 in the seventh when the Dolphins loaded the bases with two outs and Evan Fernandez smacked a grounder to short that Jack Gethings could not handle, the error plating two more.
Gau worked seven innings, and did not allow a run, despite surrendering five hits, striking out six along the way. He retired the last seven Stags he faced, getting stronger as the night went on.
"He didn't have his best stuff tonight, but he did a really good job of pitching," said Hayes.
"I'm the tone-setter," said Gau. "I know however I do the team is going to be behind me, and if I do well then that gives the whole team confidence, not just myself."
Fairfield finally got on the board in the eighth, when Gethings drove in Tim Zeng on a sacrifice fly to center off of Andy Mitchell. JU got the run back in the bottom half of the inning, after Dubrule doubled and came in to score on Camacho's RBI single.
The Stags made a push in the top of the ninth, scoring two and bringing the tying run on deck, before JU turned to Chris Mauloni, who locked down his eighth save in eight tries. He moved into a tie for fifth in all-time saves at JU in just his freshman season.
Jacksonville goes for the series win tomorrow night at 7 p.m. Tyler Santana takes the mound again, as the Dolphins try to wrap up a third consecutive home series win.
"Hopefully we can bring the same enthusiasm in the dugout and the same concentration at the plate," said Hayes.
Tomorrow night is Meal Deal day at John Sessions Stadium. Fans can get a burger or hot dog and a beer for just $4, and the beer is green to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.
