JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Jacksonville University softball (14-33, 2-15 ASUN) went across town to play the doubleheader portion of the River City Rumble series. Standout performances by Serena Quinata and Alyssa Bilodeau helped JU claim the first win of the day before falling in extras in game two.
Game One
Stellar pitching and a plethora of hits gave Jacksonville the edge they needed to start the series with a 2-1 victory over the Ospreys. Bilodeau went the distance in the circle for JU, recording 10 strikeouts and earning no runs on five hits allowed.
Jacksonville's lineup also found success throughout the game, recording at least one hit in each inning. It began with Makenzie leading off the game with a single, then eventually scoring to take an early 1-0 lead.
The Ospreys would tie the game in the bottom of the second, but Quinata hit a home run in the top of the fourth that gave JU the lead once more. It was Quinata's fourth homer of the season. The Dolphins carried the 2-1 lead into the final half inning, where the Ospreys threatened with a runner on second and only one out. Bilodeau managed to strikeout the final who batters to collect her eighth win of the season.
It was the sixth time this season Bilodeau has recorded double-digit strikeouts. Victoria Rodebaugh and Buss each went 2-4 in the game, while Quinata's home run represented the team's lone RBI. The 'Phins totaled eight hits in the game.
Game Two
The second game played out similar to the first as the score sat at 2-1 throughout much of its duration. However, a late Osprey run forced extras, and the Dolphins eventually fell 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth.
Seana Mora was given the nod in game two and went four innings before Bilodeau was brought in to relieve. Mora allowed six hits, but the damage was minimal as only one Osprey run scored. Mora put three away swinging, two of which came with runners on second and third.
It was UNF grabbing an early run in game two to take a 1-0 lead in the first. The Dolphins, however, wouldn't allow the Ospreys to hold onto their first lead of the day for very long. Picking up where she left off in the first game, Quinata hit her second home run of the day, this time scoring Perez as well as herself. The two runs gave Jacksonville a 2-1 lead that would last until the sixth.
The game remained scoreless over the next three innings, but Bilodeau was brought back in to relieve Mora. A double to center tied the game in the bottom of the sixth, and after JU failed to score in the top of the seventh the game went to extra innings.
Though both acquired base runners, neither team could get the job done in the eighth. In the ninth, however, a double to left center gave the Ospreys a game-winning run. Four different Dolphins accounted for the four hits the team recorded in game two. Bilodeau added four more strikeouts to bring her total for the day to 14. Quinata led the way with three RBIs on the day.
"It's a postseason feel right now because we still have a chance if we win out and get some help. I'm proud of them. They played 16 innings with great fight, great intensity. We got the split and we'll see if we can come back tomorrow and get the series," said head coach Erica Ayers.
Jacksonville returns to North Florida in order to decide who claims the River City Rumble series tomorrow at 1 PM. That game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
