Gainesville, Fla. – Jacksonville University softball defeated Hampton 8-0 in five innings Saturday, but came up short against the fourth-ranked Florida Gators in Gainesville. The Dolphins fell 2-1 in a continuation of Friday's rain-delayed contest with Florida (32-4), and 4-0 in a second game against the Gators.
The JU pitching staff was impressive throughout the weekend. Alyssa Bilodeau, although she was charged with a loss to Florida, held the Gators to two runs on six hits in seven innings spanning two days. Seana Mora faced only 17 batters in her 5-inning win over the Pirates (13-17). In the third game of the weekend, the Dolphins went to their freshman arm. Haley Holloway held her own in JU's second loss to Florida, allowing just two unearned runs.
"I'm very proud of our kids' competitiveness and intent today," JU head coach Erica Ayers said. "Much better than yesterday."
vs. Hampton
Jacksonville (20-15) sprinted through Saturday's first game, defeating Hampton 8-0 in five innings. The contest took just over one hour.
The Dolphins chased Pirates starter Emily Sevilla with the bases loaded and nobody out in the third inning. Allie Hotetz entered the circle and promptly walked Hannah Roberts to score Allie McCourt, hit Jordan Daniels to score Danielle Baker, and threw a wild pitch that allowed Heather Roberts to make it 3-0. With runners on second and third, Katelin Davis ripped a two-RBI single to give JU a 5-0 lead.
In the fourth, Heather Roberts belted a two-run homer into the scoreboard in left-center field to make it 7-0. Jacqueline Hodskins then reached first and advanced to second on an error, moved to third on a single by Daniels, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Kristen Griffith.
With the score 8-0, Mora took the Pirates 1-2-3 to end the game in the fifth. Mora earned the win, holding Hampton to two hits in five innings.
vs. Florida (continuation of Friday's rain-delayed game)
The Dolphins couldn't quite hold on in the continuation of Friday's game with the Gators, falling 2-1.
Florida led off the bottom of the fifth with a double, which soon became the go-ahead run. It proved enough.
"I feel like I hurt us with some positioning that didn't give us a chance to make a play at the play to prevent the go-ahead run," Ayers said.
Florida's Aleshia Ocasio, who relieved 2017 USA Softball Player of the Year Kelly Barnhill to start the continuation, earned the win, holding JU to two hits in two and two-thirds innings. Bilodeau took the loss for JU despite a valiant effort. She held the Gators to just two runs on six hits, striking out three.
Serena Quinata, who hit the solo home run that gave JU a brief 1-0 lead on Friday night, finished the game 2-for-2.
vs. Florida
Jacksonville went to their freshman arm with Holloway in the circle in the second game against Florida. The right-hander held her own, but the Gators' ace doesn't require much run support.
Barnhill earned the win, shutting out the Dolphins to conclude the weekend's action in Gainesville. Holloway took the loss in a strong outing, holding the Gators to just two earned runs.
"I'm very happy with how Haley threw. She battled being squeezed a little bit, like always happens on the road," Ayers said. "I'm hoping this gives her some confidence because we are going to need her down the stretch."
Jacksonville heads home for a Wednesday doubleheader with Bethune-Cookman at the Debbie & Fred Pruitt Softball Complex. Game one's first pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.
