FORT MYERS, Fla. – After splitting the series-opening doubleheader on Saturday, the Jacksonville University softball team was back on the diamond for the rubber match of their three-game series against FGCU. The Dolphins (23-16, 9-9) jumped out to an early lead over the Eagles (23-17, 14-3) and managed to tie things up after falling behind, but a run in the sixth from FGCU proved to be the difference in a 5-4 game.
The afternoon started off right for JU as
Samantha Poehlman opened the game with a ringing double to right center to get into scoring position after just three pitches. After advancing to third on a flyout, Poehlman scored the first tally of the game on a sacrifice fly off the bat of
Hannah Roberts to make it 1-0.
The Dolphins scored again in the third inning, when on a bunt by
Kassidy Cross, a throwing error allowed Roberts to come all the way around from first to score and double the lead at 2-0.
FGCU tied things in the fourth inning with a one-out two-run double and took the lead in the fifth inning on a two-run homerun with two gone in the inning.
Jacksonville scored a pair of runs in the sixth to tie things once more at 4-4. A sac fly from
Haley Holloway plated
Victoria Rodebaugh made it a one-run game before an infield single from Poehlman brought
Madison Reynolds home for the equalizer.
The Eagles took the lead for good in the bottom of the inning, once more scoring with two outs with an RBI infield single. A JU rally in the seventh was not to be as the Dolphins went down in order to end the game.
Skylar Whitty took the loss in the circle in relief, allowing three runs on three hits in her two innings of work. Starter
Alyssa Bilodeau went four innings and gave up a pair of runs on four hits while striking out three.
Poehlman turned in a 3-4 game at the plate to lead the Dolphins, driving in a run and scoring once as well. She was joined in the hit column by six other players, including
Hannah Roberts who has now hit safely in 12 of her 13 games.
The Dolphins head home to the Debbie & Fred Pruitt Softball Complex to wrap up the regular season, welcoming FAU to town on Thursday for a doubleheader scheduled for 2 PM.
