JACKSONVILLE, Fla - Jacksonville University baseball picked up its third consecutive weekend series win after beating Butler 11-3 on Saturday night at John Sessions Stadium.

The Dolphins (8-3) got a strong start from Tyler Naumann and the bats came through early to deliver the win.

The Dolphins got the bats going in the bottom of the second inning, getting three consecutive one-out singles to load the bases. Clayton Hodges picked up an RBI on a sacrifice fly out to right field to give Jacksonville the early 1-0 lead. 

In the Dolphin half of the third inning, Blake DeLamilleure hit a one-out double that was followed by a Christian Coipel walk. DeLamielleure then advanced to third base on a wild pitch and scored on a Tommy Joseph ground ball to the first baseman, who committed a throwing error trying to get him at home. Coipel was caught up in a run down after the throwing error for the second out of the inning. Jesus Pacheco was not ready for the inning to end though, as he got a RBI double to drive in Joseph giving Jacksonville a 3-0 lead. 

Pacheco led off the home half of the fifth with a base on balls that was followed by Josh Steidl's third hit of the game to put runners on first and second with nobody out. Jackson Grabsky continued the hit parade picking up an RBI single to make it 4-0. Hodges then put down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third with nobody out. The top of the order was up and Chase Malloy drew a walk to load the bases. Elias Flowers hit a sac fly to make it 5-0 Jacksonville. A wild pitch by Butler allowed yet another run to score pushing the lead to 6-0.

The Dolphins were not content with that lead, as Coipel led off the home half of the sixth with a walk, followed by back-to-back singles by Alex Imposimato and Pacheco to load the bases with no outs. Steidl picked up am RBI on a fielder's choice, putting the Dolphin lead at seven. Grabsky hit a blooping fly ball into right field to pick up a RBI on what would turn out to be a fielder's choice, 9-6 out putting the score at 8-0.

Naumann went six complete innings, giving up zero runs and tallying six strikeouts. After he was taken out, Richard Long came in relief in the seventh inning. Butler got the bats going with back-to-back singles to lead it off. After a couple of fly outs, the Bulldogs finally broke through on an RBI single to make it 8-1. 

Jacksonville continued to pile up runs in the eighth inning. A one-out single by Imposimato got it started. A wild pitch advanced Imposimato to second base, then Pacheco picked up his second RBI of the night, making it 9-1. An error on the Bulldog shortstop got Grabsky aboard and allowed Pacheco to score from second base, making the score 10-1. Hodges did a good job hitting behind the runner, a ground out to second base, and scored Grabsky, giving the Dolphins a 10-run cushion, 11-1.

In the top of the ninth inning, the Dolphins brought in Jalen Hollins for his first appearance of the season. Butler scored a few runs, but Hollins got out of the inning, stranding two runners to end the game.

ON DECK

The Dolphins are back home tomorrow at 1 p.m., looking for the weekend sweep against the Bulldogs.

COACH'S COMMENTS



THREE STRIKES

• Tyler Naumann went a career-long six innings in the start to earn the win
• Three Dolphins had multi-RBI games
• Jesus Pacheco reached base all five times he came to the plate, with three hits and two walks