JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Jacksonville University softball (11-12) ended the weekend on a high note with an 8-0 shutout of the Charleston Southern Buccaneers (6-21). It was Jacksonville's fourth win of the tournament, and would have made for a perfect weekend were it not for a 2-1 extra-innings loss to Cleveland State in the morning game.
VS Charleston Southern
Alyssa Bilodeau made her second start of the weekend vs the Bucs and pitched her second complete game in two days. The junior allowed only three hits in the game while pulling off her second shutout in 2019. With six more strikeouts in the game, Bilodeau amassed 19 over the three day tournament.
While Bilodeau kept the Bucs' hitters in order, Jacksonville's offense produced at a high level. The fifth inning proved especially friendly to the Dolphins as they collected five runs on five hits. First, it was Hannah Roberts collecting an RBI single that sent Carolyn O'Neal home to open the scoring. Two batters later, Abby Genest hit a grand slam to push JU's lead to 5-0.
Unsatisfied with the five runs, Jacksonville went on to score two in the fifth and another in the sixth that put the game to rest with an 8-0 lead. The late runs came from a Victoria Rodebaugh sacrifice fly and RBI singles from O'Neal and Genest.
While Genest's five RBIs stole the show in this one, a 3-4 game by Roberts and a 2-2 outing by O'Neal also highlighted Jacksonville's trips to the plate. With the win, Bilodeau goes to 5-5 on the season. The 11 hits for Jacksonville marks the sixth time they've reached double-digits in the category this season.
VS Cleveland State
Unlike the afternoon game, the matchup with Cleveland State saw very little scoring. Seana Mora was the one doing work in the circle for JU. Mora allowed only five hits and neither of the Vikings runs were earned by the junior.
The Vikings were the first to put one on the board when they scored on a throwing error. The 'Phins tied the game two innings later thanks to a sacrifice fly by Kassidy Cross that scored Makenzie Buss.
Mora did her part to keep the Vikings from scoring again, working her way out of multiple jams including a bases-loaded fifth inning. Both teams failed to decide it in the regulation seven innings, and the 'Phins entered extras for a second time in five days. A double in the top of the eighth gave Cleveland State a 2-1 lead, and Jacksonville's offense couldn't even things up before the final out was made.
Jacksonville's offense recorded four hits in the game, and Cross was credited with their lone RBI. Mora's record moved to 4-5 following the loss.
The Dolphins return to action on Wednesday, Mar. 13 when they host former ASUN tenant USC Upstate for a doubleheader at the Debbie & Fred Pruitt Softball Complex. Game one of the double header, scheduled to start at 5 PM, will be broadcast on ESPN+. Game two is scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM.
