KENNESAW, Ga. – A late inning surge doomed Jacksonville University baseball in the opening game of the series at Kennesaw State, with the Owls winning 12-2 on Friday night at Stillwell Stadium.
 
The Dolphins (19-16, 6-10) had the game tied heading into the sixth, when KSU scored 10 runs over the final three innings.
 
The game started with a two-run home run for KSU, to give them a 2-0 lead. A one-out walk set the table to the two-run blast to left. From there, Mason Adams settled in, getting the next two men, including a strikeout to end the frame.
 
In the top of the second, JU got one back. Blake DeLamielleure was hit by pitch to lead off the inning and stole second, scoring on Jesus Pacheco's chopper over the head of the third baseman, making it 2-1.
 
KSU put two on in the third with two outs, but Adams executed a big strikeout to strand them, setting up the Dolphins to tie the game in the fourth.
 
Christian Coipel dropped down a bunt single, but was erased on a fielder's choice to third hit by DeLamielleure. Jake Berg drew a walk and Pacheco came through again, executing a hit-and-run to score DeLamielleure and tie the game.
 
The first two Owls reached against Adams, on a single and hit batsman. After a flyout to left, JU turned a 3-6-1 double play to end the inning.
 
Elias Flowers led off the fifth with a single, and advanced around to third on a throwing error by the pitcher, but after a walk to Diaz to put runners at the corners, a double play ended the Dolphin threat.
 
It remained tied until the sixth, when KSU hit a solo home run to left to give the Owls a 3-2 lead. In the seventh, they connected to score five runs on five hits, including two doubles and a triple, off of three different JU pitchers. They scored four more in the eighth, thanks to a throwing error, an RBI single and another two-run homer.
 
ON DECK
 
Jacksonville faces Kennesaw State again on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Stillwell Stadium.
 
THREE STRIKES
 

• Jesus Pacheco recorded his fourth multi-RBI game of the year and his second three-hit game of the year and ninth multi-hit game overall
• Mason Adams rang up seven more batters in his 6.1 innings pitched, and has 87 strikeouts this season
• JU has dropped six-straight games to Kennesaw State, dating back to May 2019