JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – For the third straight game, Jacksonville University baseball erased a deficit to win, this time prevailing 5-2 over FGCU on Friday night at John Sessions Stadium.
 
The Dolphins (10-28, 3-13) used a two-run sixth and a three-run eighth to rally over the Eagles, capturing a third straight game to open the month of May.
 
"We're starting to get a little healthy," said Head Coach Chris Hayes. "We're starting to get more guys back in the lineup, back in a rhythm and the guys that have been consistent the whole time have been continuing to perform."
 
The night started as a pitching duel, and JU's Tyler Santana used strikeouts and timely double plays to keep FGCU off balance. He racked up seven K's through his six-inning outing, and stranded five men on base.
 
The Eagles got to him in the fifth, using two walks to the first three batters to set the table for their leadoff man to double in a run to the opposite field. An RBI single to center drove in another, before a 5-4-3 double play ended the inning and kept the FGCU lead to just 2-0.
 
JU led off the sixth inning with a walk of its own, with Elias Flowers drawing the free pass, and Ruben Someillan followed that up with a hit-by-pitch. Jesus Pacheco sacrificed the runners over and Dakota Julylia drove in Flowers with a sacrifice fly to right. Christian Coipel then hit a high chopper down the first base line, with the Eagles pitcher Mason Studstill rushing an off-balance throw to first, Coipel reached and Someillan scored to tie the game at two.
 
After zeroes were posted until the eighth, thanks to strong relief work by Christian Graham, the Eagles went to the pen and immediately walked Flowers again to lead off an inning. Someillan executed a hit-and-run to the right side, putting runners at the corners with no outs. Pacheco singled past the infield drawn in to give JU the lead, and the Dolphins added a fourth run on Julylia's sharp single to center and a fifth when Mike Cassala drove a sacrifice fly to center with the bases loaded.

"I felt relaxed," said Julylia about his return to the lineup. "I just wanted to get out here, bring the energy and help my team win a ballgame."



Jagger McCoy walked one, but struck out two straight to end the game and earn his third straight save, and fourth overall.
 
ON DECK
 
Jacksonville goes for the series win on Saturday night. Senior Day ceremonies start around 6:30 p.m., with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
COACH'S COMMENTS

 
THREE STRIKES
 

• RHP Tyler Santana struck out the second batter he faced tonight, recording his 252nd of his career, to become the all-time leader in strikeouts in JU baseball history
• Ruben Someillan was hit by a pitch in the sixth, the 31st time in his career he has worn one, continuing to add to his program record. He also extended his on-base streak to all 38 games this season
• Dakota Julylia made his return to the lineup after missing the last five games to go 3-3 with 2 RBI