MIAMI – Jacksonville University baseball was opportunistic all night on offense, and raced its way to a series win with a 13-6 victory at FIU on Saturday night.
The Dolphins (10-5) hit the double-digit win mark and stayed perfect in weekend series this season, with its fourth in four tries this year.
Things got started quickly for the Dolphins on offense.
Chase Malloy was hit by a pitch to lead off the game. He stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher. After
Jonah Diaz walked,
Jesus Pacheco drove in both on an RBI single to right, followed by a throwing error. He then scored himself on a wild pitch to make it 3-0.
Jackson Grabsky started the second inning in a similar fashion. He walked to start the frame, took second on a passed ball, stole third and scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-0.
After a strong start by
Tyler Naumann, who struck out three through the first two innings, including a backward K with the bases loaded to keep the Panthers off the board in the second, FIU got to him in the third. A walk, single and a homer, made it 4-3 and JU went to the bullpen, bringing in
Bryce Fisher. An error allowed for the game to be tied before Fisher ended the inning. The offense immediately picked up the staff.
Blake DeLamielleure doubled to lead off the inning and
TJ Curd walked. A two-out walk loaded the bases, and a wild pitch gave JU the lead again. Malloy hit a groundball to third, and an error led to two more runs, making it 7-4 Dolphins.
After Fisher posted a scoreless bottom of the fourth, the Dolphins added to the lead in the fifth.
Christian Coipel hit a solo homer to lead off the frame. Pacheco was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt. He took third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch to extend the advantage to five, 9-4.
The Panthers got a pair of runs back in the seventh, and JU tacked on another in the eighth. The Dolphins loaded the bases with one out, and Pacheco was hit by a pitch to drive in the 10th run of the night.
In the top of the ninth,
Jake Berg appeared as a pinch-hitter and hit a two-run home run, the first of his career, to double up the lead, 12-6.
ON DECK
Jacksonville goes for the sweep of FIU tomorrow, with first pitch scheduled for noon. Do not forget to spring forward on your clocks tonight so you make first pitch on time!
THREE STRIKES
- JU had a season-high five steals
- The Dolphins had 13 runs on just eight hits
- JU hit for the cycle as a team in the game, with four singles, a double, a triple and two home runs
