JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – An offensive explosion fueled 17-9 win for Jacksonville University baseball over High Point on Saturday afternoon at John Sessions Stadium.
 
The Dolphins (2-0) used a five run seventh to break an eight-all deadlock to capture a season-opening series win.
 
The two teams went back and forth early. The first two Dolphin runs came off a Cam Ridley two-RBI base hit with the bases loaded after two walks to Chase Malloy and Raymond Gil and a hit batsman, Blake DeLamielleure. After the Panthers tied the game at two in the top of the second inning, the bottom of the Dolphins order got a rally going with back-to-back singles by Jackson Grabsky and Jesus Pacheco. As the lineup turned over, Malloy walked to load the bases which was followed by two-run single by Jonah Diaz. Gil picked up an RBI on a groundout and another run crossed on a wild pitch to make it 6-2.

The Panthers were not ready to go away yet, however. A three-run home run in the top of the third silenced the Jacksonville crowd and brought High Point to within one run, 6-5. Quick work was made of the Dolphins in the bottom of the third and the Panthers hit yet another home run in the top of the fourth to take the lead 7-6. Three batters later, an RBI single to extend the Panther lead to 8-6. 
 
In the bottom of the fith inning, the Dolphins bottom part of the order came alive again. Jake Berg and Grabsky lead off the inning with singles and were moved over by a Pacheco sacrifice bunt. With two runners in scoring position for the top of the lineup, Diaz delivered again for a two RBI hit to tie the game at eight.
 
After a scoreless sixth by both teams, with the Panthers stranded two runners in the top of the seventh, the Dolphin bats came alive. Malloy got his first base hit of the afternoon, then stole second base and advanced to third on a throwing error by the High Point catcher. Diaz, again, got a base hit and his fourth RBI of the game to give JU the lead, 9-8. The Dolphin rally was on. Gil got a base hit, DeLamielleure walked, Ridley drove in his third run of the game to extend the lead to 10-8. Then on a wild pitch, Gil touched home. Berg followed that up with a two-RBI base hit to make it 13-8. A five-run seventh inning for the Dolphins gave them some breathing room.
 
In the top of the eighth, the Panthers were able to put a dent in the Dolphin lead by drawing a walk then getting an RBI double for, what would turn out to be their last run of the ball game, making the score 13-9. 
 
Jacksonville was not done yet as they were looking to really put High Point away in the bottom of the eighth. Grabsky led off with a double then Pacheco got a bunt for a hit, advancing Grabsky to third. Malloy delivered with an RBI single to put the lead back to five, 14-9. Christian Coipel put an exclamation point on this one with two outs and two on, blasting his first home run of the season over the right field wall to make it 17-9.
 
The Panthers went down in order in the ninth inning against Richard Long, making his first appearance as a Dolphin. Leighton Alley was credited for the win after coming in for relief in the seventh inning.
 
UP NEXT
 
Jacksonville goes for the sweep over High Point, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday.
 
THREE STRIKES
 

• The 17 runs were the most scored since a 17-1 win over FGCU in the decisive ASUN Baseball Championship Round One series win on May 23, 2021
• Jonah Diaz became the first Dolphin to record a four-RBI game this season
• Four more Dolphins debuted in the game, all pitchers