JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville University softball opened the 2023 campaign at home with a doubleheader sweep in the River City Leadoff.
The Dolphins (2-0) bested Georgetown 6-2 in the early game and topped Furman 5-3 in the nightcap.
GAME 1
The Dolphins fell behind early to Georgetown before rallying in the fourth to take a lead it would not relinquish.
The Hoyas plated two runs in the second. A single to right started the inning, followed by a double to left to put runners at second and third. A walk loaded the bases, followed by a pair of hit batters to plate the two runs before the Dolphins got out of the inning, leaving two on.
It stayed 2-0 Georgetown until the fourth.
Joely Leguizamon walked to lead off the frame and
Allison Bratek was hit by a pitch. After a pitching change by the Hoyas, a wild pitch promptly moved the runners up to second and third.
Madison Kennedy then came through with the first big swing of the day, doubling to right center to plate both runners.
Kailey Harrigan was hit by a pitch and a groundout advanced the runners to second and third, before
Hallie Kern drove them both in with the second double of the inning. JU led 4-2 after four.
Georgetown tried to answer right back, with a leadoff single, but a sharp double-play started by pitcher
Ashlee Harwood got the first two outs. A walk and a single put two more on, before a groundout to first ended the threat and kept the Dolphins on top.
JU took advantage by adding to the lead in the bottom half of the fifth.
Allison Bratek had a one-out single to left center, and with two outs, Tatiana Davis lined a double to center, scoring Bratek.
Alison Carter immediately followed with another double, plating Davis to extend the lead to 6-2.
After a weather delay that lasted 2:16, JU got the final three outs, punctuating the win with a strikeout looking by new pitcher
Emma Whitfield, to end it.
GAME 2
Furman got a run in the first inning for a quick start to the last game of the day. A single by two of the first three batters set up an RBI single one batter later. The Paladins continue to threaten until a well-timed double play was turned by
Victoria Rodebaugh catching a liner at third and doubling off the runner at first to end the inning.
JU answered immediately, putting some pressure on the Paladins and then striking at an early opportunity. A walk and a single put two on with one out. A fielder's choice forced out Rodebaugh at third for the second out, but on the attempted double play at first, Leguizamon took advantage to go first to third. Then, an error by the first baseman scored the tying run. A walk followed to load the bases and a single by
Alison Carter to left plated two more to give the Dolphins a 3-1 lead after one.
After a 1-2-3 inning for Furman, they got one back in the third. A leadoff triple scored on a single to center right after. They had a chance to tie it on a long fly ball to center, but a great relay to the plate cut down the tying run and kept JU in front 3-2.
The Dolphins built the lead back up in the third. A leadoff single to center by
Averi Harcus was a strong start, but two quick outs followed. Two batters were hit by pitches and the bases were loaded for
Madison Reynolds. She worked the count full before going the other way, flaring a single to right to drive in two more and extend the advantage to 5-2.
Furman crept closer again in the fifth. Again, the Paladins started things off with a single. After a popup out, a hit batter put two one, and another single loaded the bases with one out. An infield fly to third was the second out, but a grounder to short was mishandled, leading to a run. The next batter fouled out to third, and the bases were left loaded, keeping JU in front 5-3.
The last threat to the lead by Furman came in the sixth, when the leadoff batter walked. A hot shot up the middle that glanced off of pitcher
Emma Whitfield before Leguizamon scooped it and facilitated the double play and the Dolphins closed it out strong from there.
ON DECK
Tomorrow's day two of the River City Leadoff starts early, due to impending inclement weather. IUPUI and Syracuse are scheduled to face off at 9 a.m., with JU following against Syracuse at 12:30 p.m. and IUPUI at 3 p.m. at the Debbie & Fred Pruitt Softball Complex.
THREE STRIKES
