JACKSONVILLE,FLA-  Jacksonville Softball improved to a 12-5 record on Friday evening after triumphing over University of Akron in a 9-1 final.

Skylar Whitty did damage in the circle, striking out seven batter while leading JU to an early victory as JU took out Akron in just five innings. Whitty improved her record this season to 6-2 with the victory.

Akron rotated four pitchers through five innings but failed to find a way to hold back to booming JU offense.

"It starts with pitching and Skylar gave us another really good start," commented Head Coach Erica Ayers.

The Dolphins did not hold back and went to work right from the first at-bat. Makenzie Buss led of the batting order for the evening doubling to right field and quickly advancing to third on the next batter. Kassidy Cross earned her fifth RBI of the season when Buss scored as a result of her single to left field.

JU maintained the 1-0 lead until the third inning when Morgan Camdus scored after hitting a double to center field. The ball game stayed knotted at 1-1 until the fourth inning when the Dolphins scored seven runs on four hits.

Bases were loaded when the Dolphins began to burry Akron under a plethora of runs. Serena Quinata, Hallie Kern and Ashley Darakjian were placed around the diamond when Buss singled to center field, batting in Quinata for run number two. The bases remained loaded and another Dolphin run was knocked in by Kern when Kayana Perez was hit by a pitch. Seana Mora entered at third to pinch run for Darakjian and advanced home on a wild pitch.

Cross had stellar performance in the fourth, recording two RBI's on her single to left field and scoring on the next play as Hannah Roberts knocked a double to center field. Roberts gave JU the 8-1 lead after Carolyn O'Neal singled up the middle. 

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth the Dolphins were just one run away from securing the mercy victory over Akron. Madison Kennedy, Perez and Cross were all walked as Lauren Frigyes struggled to put any strikes down.

The Zips made a final pitching change before Hannah Roberts stepped up to the plate hoping to save the game. Unbothered by the fresh pitcher Roberts fired a rocket to center field to score Kennedy for the winning run.  Roberts currently leads the Dolphins with 17 hits and 19 RBI's.

"Mak really set the tone early offensively and came up with a big at-bat to break the 1-1 tie. I thought the hitters did a great job adjusting to all the arms they threw at us. We strung together some quality at-bats tonight," Ayers concluded.

The Dolphins return to the field tomorrow afternoon for a double header against Virginia Tech and Purdue starting at 3PM.