JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – What started as a beautiful day for softball turned into a waiting game with Mother Nature Friday at the Debbie and Fred Pruitt Softball Complex, as Jacksonville University played host to Boston College. Two early runs got the Dolphins (1-0) going early as
Alyssa Bilodeau took care of the rest, holding the Eagles (0-1) out of the hit column for 6 1/3 innings of play before the game went into a weather delay of more than two hours before field conditions were deemed unplayable, leading to the game being called official in favor of Jacksonville.
After BC went down in order to open the game,
Makenzie Buss led off the Dolphins first with a hit by pitch and subsequently stole second to move into scoring position. After a strikeout,
Hannah Roberts grounded one back through the box into centerfield to score Buss from second and plate the game's first run. Roberts advanced to second on the throw back in and following the second out of the inning, scored on an throwing error by Boston College on a ball off the bat of
Kailey Harrigan to go ahead 2-0
After being held in check at the plate in the second and third, Jacksonville added another run in the fourth. A one-out double by Harrigan set the tone for the inning. After advancing to third on a groundball to shortstop, Harrigan crossed home when an errant pickoff throw by the Eagle's catcher sailed into left field, making it a 3-0 game.
The Dolphins tacked on another run in the fifth, as
Madison Reynolds scored on a bases-loaded groundout to second by Roberts after reaching on a one out walk.
The story of the game was in the circle, as
Alyssa Bilodeau worked a gem to start the season. The redshirt senior struck out six in her first turn through the Boston College lineup and didn't allow a baserunner until the fifth inning, when Gianna Boccagno reached on an error. Only two more Eagles would reach base in the game, both via the base on balls as Bilodeau finished her afternoon with 12 strikeouts.
Roberts paced the Dolphins at the plate, recording two of JU's five hits and driving in two runs in the ballgame. Four different players scored a run for Jacksonville in the weather-shortened opener.
The Dolphins will be back in action tomorrow against Illinois State. Due to weather, the start time has been moved up 30 minutes after the conclusion of the Illinois State-Clemson game, scheduled for a 9:30 AM start.
