MIAMI – Jacksonville University baseball erased an early deficit to win at FIU 4-3 on Friday night.
The Dolphins (9-5) used a strong fourth and fifth inning and steady pitching to pick up the series opening win.
After a scoreless first,
Jesus Pacheco kept his hot-hitting ways going with a leadoff single, and took second on an error by the second baseman.
Blake DeLamielleure was hit by a pitch with one out, but the Dolphins were unable to push anything across.
Again in the third, two men reached for JU, but were stranded. In the bottom half of the inning, the leadoff man reached against
Mason Adams, and a home run gave the Panthers an early 2-0 lead.
JU quickly rallied in the top of the fourth.
Jake Berg walked to start the frame and DeLamielleure was hit by a pitch for the second time.
Jackson Grabsky doubled to left center to drive them both in, then came in to score himself on a sacrifice fly by
Jonah Diaz to give the Dolphins a 3-2 lead.
DeLamiellure added to the advantage in the fifth with a solo home run, his third of the year.
Adams continued to keep the FIU bats off balance, as he continued to rack up strikeouts. He fanned nine in total, while allowing only the two runs on four hits through six innings of work. He gave way to
Parker Murphy in the seventh, who walked one and struck out one, before
Blake Barquin replaced him, surrendering an RBI double before getting out of the inning to keep JU on top 4-3.
After Barquin sat down the Panthers in order in the eighth,
Tyler Vogel entered and after the first runner reached on an error, a double play on a failed bunt attempt and a fly out ended the game.
ON DECK
Jacksonville plays at FIU on Saturday night in search of a road series win for the first time this year. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
THREE STRIKES
- The Dolphins earned their first road win of the season
- Tyler Vogel locked down his sixth save of the year
- Blake DeLamielleure extended his on-base streak to 11 games and Jonah Diaz had a single to move his hit streak to eight games
