JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Jacksonville University baseball took down Siena 2-1 on Friday night at John Sessions Stadium.
 
Evan Chrest got his second start of the season going four innings and recording seven strikeouts, setting the tone for the Dolphins (2-3) on a strong pitching night.
 
At the top of the first, a two-out walk by Evan Chrest got the Saints on the base paths. After the runner took a second base, an RBI single to left field gave Siena an early 1-0 lead.
 
The Dolphins got their first hit in the bottom of the third off the bat of Chase Malloy but couldn't cash in any runs, with Siena clinging to a 1-0 lead through three innings.
 
In the top of the fifth, Chrest's night was finished and he was replaced by Tommy Allman. Allman kept up the good pitching by Jacksonville going, delivering four innings with four strikeouts.
 
Jacksonville found some offense in the fifth as Jonny Barditch was hit by a pitch with one-out, bringing up Blake Edmonds, who then walked to put runners at first and second for the top of the order. Kris Armstrong stepped in with two down, but the Dolphins couldn't cash in as Armstrong popped out to shortstop to end the inning.
 
Hogan McIntosh led off the home half of the sixth with a single right back up the middle to getcollect the second hit of the night for Jacksonville. However, Siena once again stranded the runner and struck out the side. 
 
A lead-off infield hit by Colin Wetterau got the Dolphins on base and he was moved over by a sacrifice bunt. A pop fly off the bat of Elias Flowers to the center fielder was dropped and put runners at first and second for Malloy. He tied the ball game on an RBI base hit to left and advanced to second on the throw to the plate. McIntosh stepped in with two outs and two in scoring position. However, a ground ball to the shortstop ended the inning.
 
In the bottom of the eighth, a lead-off double by Chandler Howard for Jacksonville put the potential game-winning run on second base with nobody out. Cam Ridley advanced the runner on a ground out to third base. With one out, Blake DeLamiellure hit a deep fly ball to center field for a sacrifice fly that made it 2-1 Jacksonville.
 
That's all the Dolphins needed as Leighton Alley took over for Tommy Allman (2-0) in the top of the ninth and was tasked with getting the save. Leighton went on to strike out one batter in a one-two-three inning to pick up his first save of the season.
 
COACH'S COMMENTS

 

ON DECK
 
JU plays Siena in a double header on Saturday. The first game starts at 1:00 p.m. at John Sessions Stadium.
 
THREE STRIKES
 
1.     Leighton Alley picked up his first save of his JU career
2.     Chandler Howard plated the winning run on his team-best sixth RBI of the year
3.     Tommy Allman earned his second win in relief this year