GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville University baseball erased an early deficit, but eventually fell 13-8 to #14 Florida on Tuesday at McKethan Stadium.
 
Duncan Hunter and John Cassala both hit three-run home runs for the Dolphins (12-9).
 
Florida jumped on JU early, scoring three in the first off of two different Dolphin pitchers. After Greg Shannahan settled things down on the mound, not giving up a run in the second, the Gator bats warmed up again in the third, and it was 8-0 Florida after four innings.
 
After the UF starter left, JU starting stacking quality at-bats against the bullpen. Cassala singled to start the inning and took second on a wild pitch. Cory Garrastazu walked with one out and Cory Heffron singled to load the bases with two outs. Opposite field singles for Ruben Someillan and Dakota Julylia drove in runs to make it 8-2.
 
After Florida responded with three more runs in the bottom of the fifth, the Dolphin offense continued its rhythm. Scott Dubrule reached on an error to start the frame and moved up to second on a groundout and third on a wild pitch. Jacob Southern walked setting up Hunter's second home run of the year, a three-run shot to right to cut it to 11-5.
 
After Jagger McCoy struck out two and held the Gators scoreless in the bottom half, Julylia reached with a single to shallow right and Angel Camacho followed with a flop shot to left center. Cassala launched his first blast of the year, sending his three-run homer over the left field wall and marking six unanswered runs to cut the deficit to three, 11-8.
 
That was it for the scoring for the night for the Dolphins, as UF added two more in the bottom of the seventh on a two-run home run, before Someillan robbed another homer in left center to keep it at 13-8.
 
JU returns home this weekend to open conference play vs. Lipscomb. The three-game series starts at 7 p.m. Friday at John Sessions Stadium.