JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville University baseball fell 5-2 to Miami University on Sunday at John Sessions Stadium.
 
The Dolphins (0-3) went back and forth with the Redhawks, who were opportunistic in late innings again to earn the opening weekend sweep.
 
"Miami did a really good job of not giving us anything," said Head Coach Chris Hayes. "We didn't put enough pressure on them from an offensive standpoint to make them feel uncomfortable."
 
JU drew first blood, when Ruben Someillan led off the bottom of the first inning with a double to left field. He advanced to third on Dakota Julylia's deep fly ball to center and scored on Tommy Joseph's opposite field RBI single. Christian Coipel singled after that as well, but a double play ended the inning and the threat of any further runs.
 
Miami tied it at one in the top of the second. Back-to-back walks to start the inning issued by Avery Love put pressure on the redshirt-freshman, making his first career start. He struck out the next batter before hitting a Redhawk to load the bases. Another strikeout set him up to get out of the inning, but a passed ball before his third K of the frame allowed the tying run to come home to score.
 
The Redhawks took the lead for the first time two innings later. The first batter was hit and a wild pitch moved him into scoring position, setting up an RBI single to right to put Miami in front 2-1. Love got two out and allowed one more baserunner before he gave way to Jagger McCoy, who walked the first man he faced before a strikeout looking left the bases loaded.
 
In the top of the fifth, JU knotted the score back up at two. Elias Flowers rocketed a ball to first that was too hot to handle for an infield single to start things. He went to third on some smart baserunning when the Miami third baseman made an ill-advised throw to first to try and nab Duncan Hunter on his slow roller down the line. Two batters later, he scored on Jesus Pacheco's groundout to short.
 
Miami took the lead for good in the seventh. They greeted reliever Connor Hults (0-1) with a basehit, followed by a walk, then an RBI double. Sam Brunning relieved Hults, and two straight sacrifice flies to right pushed the advantage to three, 5-2.
 
Jacksonville stays at home to finish its season-opening homestand vs. Pittsburgh at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

HEAD COACH CHRIS HAYES POSTGAME

 

THREE STRIKES
 

• RHP Avery Love set a new career-high for strikeouts in a season, and it took him just 4.2 innings to do it. He fanned eight, topping his season total of seven in 6.1 innings pitched last year
• The JU pitching staff combined to K 17 Redhawks on the day
• Ruben Someillan logged his first multi-hit game of the season. He led the team with five last year