JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After splitting a doubleheader with Eastern Kentucky (4-25, 1-5) yesterday afternoon, the Dolphins (11-14, 5-1) took home the series win in comeback fashion today.
With the two previous matchups resulting in opposite outcomes, today was set to be anybody's ball game. Skylar Whitty and Samantha Reynoso took the lead in the circle for their teams to face off with a similar lineup to game one.
Contrary to game one, however, was the Colonels ability to start the game in front after two runs came across for them in their first attempts of the day. JU would be held scoreless after one, but Whitty would ensure EKU would do the same the next half-inning.
In the bottom half of the second, Logan Keith would drive in the Dolphins' first run of the game, cutting their deficit to just one run. JU would leave two on base to close the inning, sending us to a stalemate for the next four innings. Skylar Whitty would continue to do a "phenomenal job shutting it down after the first," and catching a pair of stolen base attempts to add to the defensive effort, was Madison Kennedy.
In the sixth inning, after a double to the fence by Allison Bratek, Kennedy would come to bat with two outs and an opportunity to tie the game in a clutch moment. She exceeded that with a two-run homer to dead center field to give the Dolphins the lead in the bottom of the sixth at 3-2.
Every good story has its dramatic ending as well. The top of the seventh was led off with a first-pitch single to center field by Miranda Lopez. After striking out the next batter, Whitty would force EKU's following at-bat to result in a fielder's choice turned error that advanced Lopez to third. In the final at-bat of the game, Whitty was able to calm the field down and force a popup to the shortstop, Madison Reynolds, leaving EKU's Lopez on third base, to end the game.
Quotable
Head Coach Erica Ayers
On the win
"The offense wasn't easy, hit a few hard balls right at people...but kept fighting and thankfully Madison got into one."
On Madison Kennedy's Two-Way Play
"[Madison] threw a few runners out today which was big. She has the capability to be a force in the lineup and behind the dish...she is starting to heat up, which is great."
JU looks next to Wednesday, March 30th, as they host the #2 Florida State Seminoles at 5:30 PM.
Be sure to follow along via Twitter (@jax_softball) and behind the scenes on Instagram (@jax_sftbl) to stay up to date and view exciting content of the softball team all season long.
