JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville University softball team was back in action at the Debbie & Fred Pruitt Softball Complex Wednesday for a non-conference doubleheader against Florida A&M. The Dolphins (22-13) used a pair of big innings in game one to capture a 12-4 run-rule victory in five innings before going on to a 7-3 win in the nightcap.
 
After a 1-2-3 top of the first inning in the opener, Jacksonville scored four runs in their first at-bats of the day to take the early lead. Samantha Poehlman led off with a four-pitch walk before Victoria Rodebaugh was hit a pitch. Hannah Roberts then stepped to the plate and delivered a two-run double to left center to make it a 2-0 game. Freshman Allison Bratek followed with a double of her own to score Kassidy Cross who took over baserunning at second for Roberts. Starting pitcher Haley Holloway helped her own effort delivering a one-out single to right center to score Bratek after she advanced to third on a groundout.
 
Florida A&M scored their first tally of the game in the third inning, cashing in a run with a two-out single into right field. The Rattlers tied things at 4-4 in the fourth, scoring three runs and taking advantage of a pair of errors in left field by the Dolphins.
 
JU answered in a big way in the bottom of the inning, scoring six times to regain the lead at 10-4. After back-to-back two-out singles by Cross and Bratek, the Dolphins worked three-straight walks to load the bases and force home a pair of runs to make it 6-4. Madison Kennedy was then called on off the bench to hit with the bases loaded and after battling the count to 3-2, found a pitch to her liking and belted a high fly ball to left field, clearing the fence by plenty for a grand slam to make it a six-run game.
 
After working out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the fifth, JU ended things early in their half. After Poehlman led off and stole second, Rodebaugh singled to shortstop to put runners on the corners. Rodebaugh then broke for second and was caught stealing, but a collision between her and the Rattler infielder left both players shaken up and allowed Poehlman to scamper home to make it 11-4. Hannah Roberts worked a walk and was replaced on the bases by Seana Mora, who tagged up and advanced to second on flyout to left with two outs. Hallie Kern concluded matters in the opener, singling back through the box to plate Mora and seal the 12-4 win.
 
Holloway (1-0) picked up her first win of the season, going five innings and allowing four runs, of which only one was earned, on nine hits. Bratek went 2-3 with and RBI and two runs scored in the opener, while Holloway also drove in a pair. Kennedy's grand slam was the big blow in the game as six different players drove in runs and nine different Dolphins crossed home plate in the contest.
 
In the nightcap, JU once again jumped out to an early lead, scoring twice in the first inning by way of a bases-loaded walk by Madison Kennedy and an RBI fielder's choice from Caroline Watson.
 
The lead wouldn't last long as Florida A&M again capitalized on some poor defense in the top of the second to score twice with two outs and even things at 2-2.
 
Watson put the Dolphins back on top for good in the third inning with an RBI single to left center that scored Kennedy from second after she led off with a double. A Hannah Roberts RBI single in the following inning plated Samantha Poehlman to once more make it a two-run game at 4-2.
 
The Rattlers drew within one in the fifth inning when they plated a run with a two-out single to centerfield.
 
Jacksonville added a trio of insurance runs in the sixth inning, the first coming on an RBI double by Allison Bratek to left field corner that scored Poehlman all the way from first base. After a groundout, Kennedy tripled off the wall in right center to bring Bratek around, missing her second homerun of the day by a matter of feet. A sacrifice fly to left field by Kassidy Cross concluded scoring matters in the inning and made it a 7-3 lead for the Dolphins.
 
A late rally by Florida A&M saw them bring the tying run to the plate with two outs, but Seana Mora (6-0) managed to finish off her complete game effort and seal the win for Jacksonville. The right-hander struck out four in the game while scattering six hits and allowing three runs, none of which were earned.
 
Poehlman went 3-3 at the plate with three runs scored while Kennedy went 2-2 with two RBI and two runs of her own. Watson also drove in two while Bratek went 2-4 with two runs and an RBI.
 
The Dolphins, originally scheduled to play Liberty in a doubleheader Saturday, will now be back in action on the road Wednesday at Georgia Southern at 5 PM for a single seven-inning contest.