JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville University baseball dropped its ASUN Conference opener 7-5 to Kennesaw State on Friday night at John Sessions Stadium.
 
The Dolphins (11-6, 0-1) waited out an hour and a half weather delay before getting things started.
 
In the top of the first inning, the Owls got out to a fast start on a leadoff single on the first pitch of the ballgame. That was followed by an RBI double to give KSU the early lead, 1-0. A passed ball moved the runner to third, who was then driven in by a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0 Owls.
 
Jacksonville was able to respond in the bottom of the first inning after Chase Malloy led off the inning being hit by a pitch. On a hit a run, Malloy was able to advance to third base on a groundout to short, then Jesus Pacheco walked to put runners on the corners with one out. Christian Coipel stepped in and on a 3-2 count blasted his sixth home run of the year to give the Dolphins a 3-2 lead.
 
Kennesaw State came to the plate in the top of the fourth inning down by a run. The leadoff man got on via an infield single. A sacrifice bunt moved him to second which was followed by an RBI single to left field to tie the game. The next hitter blasted a deep double to centerfield and a great relay play by the Dolphins nailed the runner at home to keep the score tied at three.
 
In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Dolphins loaded the bases with nobody out when Malloy walked, Jonah Diaz reached on a fielder's choice where Malloy was also safe at second base and then Pacheco was hit by a pitch. Coipel hit a sacrifice fly to left field to pick up his fourth RBI of the game, regaining the lead 4-3 Jacksonville. Blake DeLamiullure followed that with a sacrifice fly to deep center, scoring Diaz from second base, to make it 5-3 Dolphins.
 
The Owls came back in the top of the sixth with a two-out rally. A two-run double tied the game at five, followed by a two-run home run to give Kennesaw State the lead, 7-5.
 
Zeros lit up the scoreboard the final three innings, with Jacksonville threating in the eighth after Cam Ridley reached on an error and went to second on a sacrifice bunt, but was stranded there.
 
Mason Adams got the start for the Dolphins going 5.2 innings with seven strikeouts and Bryce Fisher added 3.1 innings of scoreless relief with two K's.
 
ON DECK
 
Jacksonville hosts Kennesaw State in game two of the series on Saturday and look to even things up. Due to impending weather tomorrow evening, first pitch is now scheduled for 6 p.m. with RHP Michael Darrell-Hicks toeing the rubber for JU.

COACH'S COMMENTS

 

THREE STRIKES
 

• Christian Coipel registered his third multi-hit and fourth multi-RBI game of the season
• Coipel hit his 17th career home run
• Jonah Diaz extended his hit streak to 11 games and both he and Blake DeLamielleure have now reached base safely in 14 straight contests