CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Jacksonville University baseball used the long ball and steady pitching to even the series at Austin Peay with an 11-3 win on a rainy Saturday afternoon at Raymond C. Hand Park.
AJ Jones earned his team high seventh win of the season,
Nick Love pitched the final 2.1 innings for the save, and
Duncan Hunter,
John Cassala and
Angel Camacho all hit home runs to support the strong pitching.
"AJ gave us a chance, this whole thing starts with him on the mound," said Head Coach
Chris Hayes. "Duncan comes up with a big swing, ties it up, next inning
John Cassala came up with a big swing and all of a sudden everybody released and relaxed."
Austin Peay scored first for the second straight day, plating two in the third. A leadoff double was followed by a bunt single to put Governors at the corners, then another bunt squeezed in the first run of the game. A sacrifice bunt pushed both men into scoring position, leading to an intentional walk to load the bases with one out. A sacrifice fly made it 2-0 Austin Peay.
JU was able to respond immediately. Cassala led off the fourth with a single to left and stole second with two outs. Hunter drove a fly ball to right that got out, his third homer of the year to tie it at two just one-half inning later.
Austin Peay threatened to jump right back in front, but Jones managed to keep the Governors off the board. A leadoff walk went to third after stealing second and inducing a throwing error from
Reagan Wright. Another walk stole second after Jones picked up the second out of the inning via strikeout. He then fanned the next batter as well, to leave both men in scoring position.
Jacksonville took its first lead of the series in the top of the fifth. A two-out walk set up Cassala, who left the yard to left, his third home run of the year to put JU in front 4-2.
It stayed close until the eighth, when the Dolphins blew it open. Camacho started the frame with a solo shot to center, his team-high 10th of the season. He became the first JU player with double-digit home runs in a season since Austin Hays hit 16 in 2016. Hunter walked and went to second on Wright's groundout. Heffron also drew a walk and a passed ball moved both runners into scoring position. An intentional walk to
Ruben Someillan brought up
Dakota Julylia, who earned another free pass to drive in a run. A wild pitch made it 7-2, and Dubrule doubled off the top of the wall in right to clear the bases.
Jacob Southern singled to center and the Dolphins led 10-2 after bringing 11 men to the plate in the inning.
Austin Peay hit a solo shot in the bottom of the eighth, but JU got it right back in the top of the ninth when Wright, Someillan and Julylia all singled to load the bases, and Dubrule drove in his third run of the game with a fielder's choice.
Jacksonville will try to take the series tomorrow, first pitch of the rubber match at 2 p.m.
