JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville University baseball could not hold an early lead, dropping game two to North Florida 5-3 on Saturday at Harmon Stadium.
 
The Dolphins (15-13, 3-8) led 3-0 after two, but a four-run sixth by the Ospreys put them in front for good to claim a series win.
 
Trace Burchard led off the second by drawing a walk and Blake DeLamielleure followed him with a free pass of his own. Jonah Diaz laid down a bunt and a throwing error by the pitcher loaded the bases. Jesus Pacheco dropped a fly ball into center to plate two and give JU the early lead. Diaz then stole second and scored later on a balk to make it 3-0.
 
Michael Darrell-Hicks settled into a rhythm early, retiring the first two batters, allowing a baserunner, then getting the final out of the inning to strand them in each of the first three innings. He issued a leadoff walk to start the fourth. A wild pitch advanced the runner into scoring position and an RBI single got UNF on the board. A 4-6-3 double play cleaned the bases and helped limit the damage, with JU leading 3-1 after four.
 
The Dolphins put men on to lead off the fourth and sixth innings, but were unable to produce big hits to drive in runs. The Ospreys put the leadoff man on in the bottom of the sixth with a double. A groundout to second advanced the runner to third and a walk put runners at the corners with one out. A wild pitch scored a run and moved the runner up to second, setting up an RBI single to tie the game at three. After a stolen base and single to right set up runners at the corners again, Darrell-Hicks got a strikeout for the second out and he exited the ballgame. Another wild pitch gave UNF the lead and an RBI bloop double to rightcenter, which the wind blew all around, gave UNF a 5-3 lead.
 
JU's best chance the rest of the way came in the eighth. Christian Coipel drew a one-out walk and DeLamielleure reached on a two-out walk, but after UNF went to its closer, they induced a flyout to left to end the threat. The Dolphins went down in order in the ninth.
 
ON DECK
 
Jacksonville has a chance to salvage the series on Sunday afternoon with a 1:05 p.m. first pitch from Harmon Stadium.
 
THREE STRIKES
 

• Chase Malloy's 17-game on-base streak came to a close with an 0-4 day
• Jonah Diaz doubled for the second-straight day
• Jacksonville drew six walks on the day