JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville University baseball took Florida to the wire, but fell, 8-7, in a back-and-forth affair on Tuesday night at John Sessions Stadium.
 
The Dolphins (7-22) took an early lead, battled back to tie it multiple times, and brought the winning run to the plate in the ninth.
 
"It was great to get back out on the field after missing the games this weekend and not playing," said Head Coach Chris Hayes. "Ultimately, we had our opportunities to take advantage of some of their mistakes…they took advantage of them one more time than we did tonight."
 
JU started the night with a bang, as Ruben Someillan led off the first with a single, followed by a Dakota Julylia one-out single, before Jackson Grabsky was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Duncan Hunter then cleared them with a double to the left field corner to give the Dolphins the early 3-0 advantage.
 
Florida got two back in the second, with a two-run home run, then took the lead in the third, when a couple of walks and a single loaded the bases, before a single to left plated two and another single after a pitching change made it 5-3 Gators.
 
Jacksonville responded in the fourth to tie it. Kyle Richardson was hit by a pitch with two outs, and Someillan drew a walk before Jesus Pacheco shot a ball into right to score them both and knot the game at five.
 
Florida immediately went back on top, using three doubles and a single to push across two more runs and make the lead 7-5.
 
JU had another rally in them, all without a hit as well. Grabsky was hit by a pitch for the second time to lead off the fifth. Hunter then walked, they were sacrificed over before Heffron walked to load the bases, and pinch-hitter Tyler McKenna drew a walk in a nine-pitch at-bat to push across one run and Someillan was hit by a pitch to plate another one, tying the game at seven.
 
The Gators took the lead for good in the seventh, when a one-out walk came into score after a single and an RBI ground out.
 
Trace Burchard walked with two-outs in the ninth to put the tying run on base, but Elias Flowers grounded out to second to end it.
 
ON DECK
 
Jacksonville heads across town to battle North Florida at Harmon Stadium this weekend. It is the second weekend series between the rivals this season. First pitch Friday night is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
 
COACH'S COMMENTS

 

THREE STRIKES
 

• Duncan Hunter's first inning, three-RBI double extended his RBI streak to three straight games
• Ruben Someillan extended his on-base streak to all 30 games this year
• There were 19 free passes to base runners given out by the two teams combined