DELAND, Fla. – Playing their final two games before the Easter holiday, the Jacksonville University softball wrapped up the season series with Stetson University Saturday at Patricia Wilson Field. After dropping game two to the Hatters (6-16, 2-10) by a score of by a score of 5-2, the Dolphins (19-11, 7-5) once more leaned on the homerun ball to do their damage at the plate in the series finale en route to a 6-2 win.
In the first game of the twin bill, Stetson scored in their first at bats of the game, taking advantage of a fielding error and hit by pitch before a two-run double split the left center gap to make it a 2-0 game.
Things were relatively quiet from the second through the fourth innings, as both sides exchanged zeros on the scoreboard.
Madison Kennedy got the Dolphins on the board in the fifth, belting a one-out solo homerun to left to break up the no-hit bid and half the deficit at 2-1.
The Hatters responded with three of their own in the ensuing half inning by way of two-run single and an RBI fielder's choice to make it a 5-1 game.
Jacksonville had a golden opportunity to really make a dent in the scoreboard in the sixth, as the first three batters reached base before
Kassidy Cross singled back up the middle to plate
Samantha Poehlman and make it a 5-2 game. Unfortunately for JU, a bit of bad luck resulted in just one run, as the inning ended with a double play and a strikeout.
The Dolphins were able to bring the tying run to the dish in the seventh with no outs, but a late rally was not in the cards as Stetson held on to take game two 5-2 and even the series at 1-1.
Skylar Whitty (7-5) took the loss in the circle, allowing five runs, four earned, on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings of work.
Alyssa Bilodeau worked an inning and two thirds of clean relief, allowing no baserunners in her relief outing. Kennedy went 1-2 in the game with the homerun while Cross,
Victoria Rodebaugh,
Abby Quinn and
Makenzie Buss had a hit each.
The nightcap of the doubleheader started with a scoreless first inning before
Madison Kennedy stepped in and belted her second big fly of the day, this time of the two-run variety, to give Jacksonville a lead they would maintain through the balance of the game.
Ashley Darakjian followed with a triple to right center and scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-0 Dolphins.
Stetson managed a run in the bottom of the third inning, cashing in a two-out RBI single through the left side of the infield get on the board at 3-1.
Three more runs scored in the fourth for Jacksonville, with two coming once more via the homerun. After
Kassidy Cross led the inning off with a single, freshman
Allison Bratek went deep to left field for JU's second homerun of the game and sixth of the weekend to make it 5-1.
Victoria Rodebaugh singled back up the middle with two outs to score pinch runner
Haley Holloway who entered the game after Kennedy was hit by a pitch.
The Hatters tried to rally late, hitting a solo homerun in their final at bats of the day, but it wasn't enough as
Alyssa Bilodeau finished things off with her second relief appearance of the day to clinch the series with a 6-2 win.
Starter
Seana Mora (4-0) worked into the sixth inning before handing things over to Bilodeau. The right-hander scattered eight hits and allowed just one run while striking out two against two walks. Bilodeau entered and struck out the first three batters she faced, finishing the afternoon with four in two innings. At the plate, seven different players logged a hit for the Dolphins in the game, with Bratek and Rodebaugh delivering the two big blows.
Jacksonville is back at home this weekend for their second River City Rumble series of the season against crosstown rival North Florida. Action begins with a doubleheader Saturday March 10 starting at 3:30 PM.
