JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville University baseball was down to its last out twice before rallying to win 9-8 over FGCU in the 10th inning on Sunday at John Sessions Stadium.
 
The Dolphins (22-18, 9-12) erased a two-run deficit in the ninth to force extras and overcame a one-run deficit in the 10th to win it on Trace Burchard's two-RBI single to left center.
 
JU started the game well, scoring three in the first. Chase Malloy led off with a single, Elias Flowers drew a walk and Christian Coipel blasted his 12th homer of the year to right, and his second first-inning home run in as many days.
 
After the Dolphins stymied a few early FGCU scoring opportunities, the Eagles broke through in the third. A leadoff single and a hit batsman put two on with no one out, and an RBI single plated one, with another scoring on a 6-4-3 double play to cut the JU lead to 3-2.
 
FGCU came back out in the fourth and took the lead with a two-out rally. A single to left after Blake Barquin got the first two batters out on just three pitches was followed by a hit batsman. An RBI single to left tied the game and a two-run double gave the Eagles the 5-3 lead, but the inning ended when JU caught the runner trying to advance to third.
 
The Dolphins missed out on several chances over the next few innings. Chase Malloy led off the third with a single, but was caught stealing. Blake DeLamielleure hit a single to start the fourth, advanced to second, but was stranded there. Cam Ridley and Malloy strung together back-to-back singles with one out in the fifth, but a double play ended the threat. Again in the sixth, JU put two one, this time with two outs, and a groundout kept any runs from scoring.
 
The Eagles added two in the seventh, when the leadoff man was hit by a pitch, and a one-out walk put two on. A wild pitch moved them both into scoring position and the Dolphins brought in Tyler Vogel, who allowed an RBI single, followed by a passed ball that scored a run to make it 7-3 FGCU. Back-to-back strikeouts stranded two men on and set up the start of the JU rally.
 
FGCU went to the bullpen to start the seventh, and pinch-hitter Clayton Hodges singled to second, followed by Ridley reaching on an error at shirt. After a flyout put runners at the corners, the Eagles made another pitching change, and a pair of wild pitches allowed both Hodges and Ridley to score to cut the lead in half, 7-5.
 
After a scoreless eighth, the first two batters for JU in the ninth were retired. Then, Malloy worked a full-count and drew a walk, Burchard followed that up with a walk as well, and the Eagles brought in a lefty to face Coipel. He stroked a 1-2 pitch into center to plate Malloy and Burchard advanced to third. JU brought in Ethan Campbell to pinch-run for Coipel, and after DeLamielleure drew a four-pitch walk against another new FGCU pitcher to load the bases, Tommy Joseph shot a single the opposite way to tie the game at seven. Campbell was waved around third, but called out on the play at the plate to end the inning and force extras.
 
FGCU scored in the top of the 10th, when a one-out walk followed by a single to right put runners at the corners. The next batter bounced one to short, and JU tried to turn two to end the inning, but the runner was ruled to have beat the throw to first, giving the Eagles an 8-7 lead.
 
Jesus Pacheco then led off the bottom of the 10th with a single through short, and after Grabsky replaced Pacheco at first on a fielder's choice, Ridley poked a single to center. A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position and Malloy was intentionally walked to load the bases with two outs. Burchard stroked a 1-1 pitch to center and the throw to the plate was up the third baseline, with Grabsky and Ridley scoring to walk it off.
 
ON DECK
 
Jacksonville moves on to its fourth game of the five-game homestand, hosting Bethune-Cookman on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. at John Sessions Stadium.
 
COACH'S COMMENTS

 

THREE STRIKES
 

• Jacksonville won its third conference series of the season and sixth home series overall this year
• The Dolphins improved to 3-0 in extra-inning games this season, and are now 15-9 overall in extras under Head Coach Chris Hayes
• Trace Burchard had the Dolphins first walkoff hit since Christian Coipel walked it off against VCU at home on March 8, 2020