JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Jacksonville University baseball fell to Florida A&M on Wednesday afternoon 5-0. 
 
The Dolphins (22-19) put runners on in every inning, but ultimately left seven on throughout the course of the game.
 
In the top of the second inning, the leadoff man for the Rattlers walked, then back-to-back wild pitches advanced the runner to third with nobody out. Another walk put runners at the corners. After getting a strikeout for the first out, a passed ball allowed FAMU to score, making it 1-0. After a third walk of the inning to put runners at first and third with one out, there was a call to the bullpen for the sidearmer, Leighton Alley. The first batter he faced knocked a base hit into left field for an RBI making it 2-0. Trace Burchard fired down to third on a stolen base attempt for to get the second out of the inning. Alley came right back, getting the batter to strikeout to limit the damage.
 
Tommy Allman came in to relieve Alley to begin the fourth inning after he threw 1.2 innings with three strikeouts. 
 
In the top of the fourth inning, a lead off home run by FAMU pushed the Rattler lead to 3-0. The next batter of the inning reached on a base on balls and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Allman got the next batter to fly out to center field. On fielders choice groundout back to the pitcher, the runner advanced to third. Allman stranded him at third getting a final out on strikes.
 
An infield hit by FAMU to lead off the top of the fifth inning had the Rattlers right back in business. A straight steal advanced the runner to second without a throw, then a passed ball moved him up to third with nobody out. Allman got the next man to strikeout, but then an RBI bunt single made it 4-0 FAMU. Coach Hayes went to his bullpen and called upon Tyler Naumann. Allman surrendered two runs in his appearance striking out two batters. Naumann stranded a runner at first getting the final two outs of the inning (pop out to right field, and strikeout).
 
Florida A&M got the lead off man on yet again in the top of the sixth on a walk. Then a base hit had the Rattlers cooking, looking to extend their lead. Naumann did get the first out via a strikeout, but the runners advanced on a wild pitch on the third strike. An RBI ground out (6-3) made the FAMU lead 5-0. Naumann registered his third strikeout to get out of the inning. He ended his day with three strikeouts over 1.2 innings. 
 
Richard Long came in to pitch in the top of the seventh, relieving Tyler Naumann, down 5-0. Long struck out two batters in a quick three up, three down top of the seventh. He came back out for the eighth inning doing more of the same, adding two more strikeouts to his total (four) in back-to-back three-up, three-down innings. 
 
Jack Carver came on to throw the ninth inning, giving up a lead off base hit and walking the second runner as Florida A&M was threatening. A failed sacrifice attempt got the first out on a fielder's choice (1-5) then a strikeout and fly out ended the inning unscathed.
 
Jacksonville could not make a comeback in the ninth as Florida A&M was able to slam the door on the Dolphins to complete the shutout and, snapping a three-game winning streak.
 
ON DECK
 
JU hits the road to face Liberty for a three-game weekend series starting Friday at 2 p.m.

COACH'S COMMENTS

 

THREE STRIKES

• Six Dolphin pitchers combined for 14 strikeouts
• Elias Flowers doubled in the third inning
• Richard Long threw two scoreless innings in relief with four strikeouts