JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Jacksonville University softball (15-35, 3-17 ASUN) concluded the 2019 season with a home doubleheader against the North Alabama Lions (25-18, 10-10 ASUN) Saturday afternoon. The Dolphins faced tough pitching throughout the day and had trouble collecting hits as they'd fall in both contests by two runs.

Game One

In the first game, the Dolphins faced North Alabama's Megan Garst, who pulled off her second no-hitter in less than a week. Still, Jacksonville remained in the game throughout its duration and nearly tied things up in the bottom of the sixth.

The Dolphins fell behind when two UNA runs scored in the third inning. That's when Seana Mora went to work in the circle and kept the Lions from building upon their lead for the rest of the game. In the sixth, the Dolphins had a runner on second and junior Makenzie Buss at the plate. Buss hit a bomb to left field that nearly sailed over the fence and evened the score, but the Lions' left fielder snow coned the ball just before it could make it out.

The Phins were unable to do anymore damage and the final score remained 2-0. Carolyn O'Neal reached on a walk in the game, and Buss got on after wearing her third pitch in two games. Mora received the loss, going all seven innings and striking out four.

Game Two

The second game of the day was also low scoring, with North Alabama's single run in the second representing the only separation between the teams until the sixth. The run came on a play in which a double dropped into left field, then was overthrown and resulted in an inside the park home run. 

In the sixth, however, JU found an equalizer when a fielding error allowed Buss to score from second. A half inning later the Lions recaptured the lead with an RBI single, then added a third run by stealing home on a squeeze bunt attempt. Jacksonville wasn't able to put enough together in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game again, resulting in the 3-1 final.

Victoria Rodebaugh and Mora each had hits in game two, while Nydia Perez and Hannah Roberts each reached with walks. Haley Holloway received the loss after replacing Alyssa Bilodeau following five innings pitched. Bilodeau struck out three and allowed two hits, while Holloway allowed four hits and a pair of runs.

"Very disappointed. Very bad taste in our mouths," said head coach Erica Ayers of the 2019 season. "We expect more. One thing we didn't do was give up. We fought and were in every ball game until it was over. We can build off that."