JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville University baseball took the rubber match game three over Bradley 11-9 to win the series Sunday.
 
The Dolphins (11-6) erased an early seven-run deficit to win a third-straight weekend series.
 
Bradley took advantage of free passes and wild pitches to score two in the top of the first and added two more in the top of the second to lead 4-0 after two. After an error with two outs in the third, the Braves came up with a couple of timely hits, including a two-RBI double to make it 7-0.
 
Jacksonville got their first base runner in the bottom of the third inning on a one-out Chandler Howard double off the right field wall. A walk to Elias Flowers turned the lineup over to Chase Malloy with two on and one out. A wild pitch moved the runners into scoring position and a deep sacrifice fly to left field scored the first run of the game for the Dolphins. With two-away and a runner on second, Cam Ridley dug into the batter's box. On a ground ball to the third baseman, a throwing error allowed Cam to reach safely and move up to second base and Flowers scored from second to make it 7-2. Kris Armstrong blasted a home run over the right field wall to cut the Braves lead to 7-4 after three.
 
Following a quick top of the fourth inning, the Dolphins grabbed the bats in an attempt to continue to cut the deficit in the bottom half. A leadoff hit by Blake DeLamielleure got the inning started for Jacksonville. Following a pop out to the shortstop, Flowers advanced DeLamiellure to third on a deep flyout. Malloy then blasted his fourth homer of the year to cut the lead to one, 7-6.
 
Bryce Fisher continued on the mound in the top of the fifth inning. After two quick outs, a walk put a man on for Bradley. An infield single put runners at the corners with two away. An RBI single into left field scored another run for Bradley to give them some more breathing room, making it 8-6.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, the Dolphins' Hogan McIntosh drew a quick walk to start the inning. With one on, a base hit into right field off the bat of Justin Nadeau moved the runner from first to third to put runners at the corners with nobody out. On a hit and run play, Colin Wetterau knocked a base hit into left field to score the run from third to make it 8-7 Bradley. With runners at first and second, Blake DeLamielleure dug in still with nobody out. A bunt back to the pitcher on a failed sacrifice got the lead runner (1-5) for the first out of the inning. That brought up Chandler Howard. On a tapper back to the mound, the Braves took the easy out to first base (1-3) for the second out of the inning. Elias Flowers was up with two-on and two-away. Flowers delivered for Jacksonville with a two-RBI single into right field gave the Dolphins their first lead of the game, 9-8. With Malloy up, Flowers stole second base to give hime an RBI opportunity and he took advantage and traded spots with Flowers as a RBI double extended the lead to 10-8.
 
Fisher put up back-to-back scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh innings to preserve the Jacksonville two-run lead. In the bottom of the seventh, DeLamielleure led off with a walk that brought up Howard with no outs. Howard slapped a base hit the other way into left field to put runners at first and second for the nine-hole hitter, Flowers. A successful sacrifice bunt put two in scoring position for the top of the order with one out. Ridley collected an RBI base hit just past the outstretched glove of the shortstop gave Jacksonville an insurance run, making it 11-8 Dolphins but a play at the plate got the third out of the seventh inning. 
 
Fisher's day came to an end with one out in the eighth as Leighton Alley tried to slam the door on the Braves and pick up a save. With a runner on second and one out, Alley was able to strand the runner after a pair of groundouts got the Dolphins out of the inning. 
 
With two outs in the top of the ninth, a double and back-to-back walks put the tying run at first base for Bradley. An RBI base hit cut the Dolphin lead to 11-9. However, Alley held on to get the next batter to fly out to center field to complete the save.
 
COACH'S COMMENTS



ON DECK
 
Jacksonville travels to Daytona Beach on Tuesday to take on Bethune-Cookman. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
 
THREE STRIKES
 
1.     Bryce Fisher picked up his first win of the season.
2.     Chase Malloy had a career-best four RBI
3.     Jacksonville tied its season high with 11 runs.