JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville University baseball split a doubleheader at home on Saturday, winning game one 4-2 over VCU, before falling in the nightcap, 4-1 to Illinois State.
GAME 1
Another strong first inning allowed Jacksonville to strike first.
Ruben Someillan doubled,
Scott Dubrule singled and
Anthony George walked to load the bases, and with two outs,
Cory Heffron delivered a two-RBI single. The Dolphins added another in the third after Dubrule walked to lead off the inning, went to second on a balk, third on a groundout and scored on
Christian Coipel's RBI single over the infield in to right to make it 3-0.
Mike Cassala (1-2) made his first weekend start in two seasons and tossed six innings of one-hit, one-run baseball, striking out five. He was relieved by
Tyler Naumann, who hit the first batter he faced and gave up a double before a passed ball brought VCU within one, 3-2, but buckled down to strike out the next two batters and got a flyout to strand the tying run at third.
The Dolphins added an insurance run in the eight, when Coipel singled with two-outs and scored on a double to left center by
Jacob Southern.
Nick Love got the final two outs in the eighth and
Chris Mauloni struck out the side in the ninth to earn his second save of the season.
GAME 2
Jacksonville struck first in the second game as well, when Southern doubled to lead off the second, went to third on
Duncan Hunter's single and scored on a sacrifice fly by
Langston Provitt.
Illinois State took the lead for good in the top of the third. A leadoff walk followed by a single put two men on, before a one-out single tied the game and a two-out single made it 2-1 Redbirds. They added one in the fourth on an RBI triple and one more in the sixth with a solo home run.
Jagger McCoy relieved
Tyler Santana in the sixth, and allowed only one run, and struck out five, including four in one inning when a runner reached on a wild pitch strikeout to extend the frame.
Avery Love got the final two outs in the top of the ninth to keep it close.
Heffron singled to start the ninth and
Tyler McKenna ripped a base hit to right to put runners at the corners, but that's all Jacksonville could muster in the inning.
CHANATRY COACH'S COMMENT
ON DECK
Jacksonville wraps the weekend with a second game against VCU. RHP
Austin Temple takes the hill for the Dolphins, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. on a Kid's Day, presented by Simply Healthcare.
HODGES MAZDA PLAYER OF THE GAME
In game one, LF
Cory Heffron drove in two with a bases loaded single to left field in the first inning to get the scoring started for Jacksonville. It was the 10th time this season that the Dolphins scored first. In game two, LHP
Jagger McCoy pitched 3.1 innings in relief, allowing only one run on three hits and matching a career-best with five strikeouts.
