JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville University baseball scored two in the eighth to take a 4-2 win over Central Arkansas on Friday night at John Sessions Stadium.
 
The Dolphins (16-8, 2-2) won its ASUN Conference home opener thanks to strong pitching and timely hitting.
 
As expected, a pitching duel took place between the Bears' starter and Evan Chrest. Scoreless frames were put up through the first two innings. The first base hit of the night came in the top of the third inning for Central Arkansas. A sacrifice bunt moved the Bears runner up to second base and a base hit into right field scored a run to give the Bears a 1-0 lead.
 
Cam Ridley drew a walk with one away in the bottom of the third to get a runner on for the first time for Jacksonville. Ridley stole second base, but the Bears buckled down and stranded the runner as they were clinging to a 1-0 lead going into the fourth inning. 
 
With one out in the top of the fourth, the Bears got a pair of base runners via a base hit into centerfield and a walk. However, back-to-back strikeouts ended the threat and got Chrest out of the inning.
 
In the bottom half of the fourth, Jacksonville got a pair of base runners as Hogan McIntosh reached on a fielding error by the first baseman and a walk with two away setting up Blake DeLamielleure. He drew yet another walk to load the bases for Chandler Howard, who turned on a pitch, hitting the ball hard, but right to the first baseman to end the inning and strand the bases loaded.
 
The Bears were back in the top of the fifth and immediately got a base runner as Chrest hit a man on the first pitch of the inning. Following a strikeout for the first out of the inning, a base hit into right put two on with one out. Chrest continued to battle as he got out of the jam on a strikeout and fly out to strand the runners as the Bears continued to lead, 1-0. 
 
Elias Flowers broke through for Jacksonville with one out in the bottom of the fifth with a base hit into right field for the first hit of the game. With two away, Justin Nadeau slapped one the other way into left field for an RBI triple to tie the game at one apiece.
 
Both pitchers were dealing through six, but the Bears were up in the top of the seventh looking to do damage. A lead off base hit into left field got the Bears aboard. On a passed ball, the runner moved up to second base. A walk drawn by the nine-hole hitter put two on with nobody out. A balk by Chrest advanced the runners to second and third and that ended his night. Jack Carver came in to pitch and inherited the tough situation. Carver came in and walked one batter to load the bases. Leighton Alley came in to replace Carver in the bases loaded situation with nobody out. On a 2-2 pitch, Leighton got a key strikeout for the first out of the inning. On a fielder's choice groundout (6-4), Central Arkansas scored a run to reclaim the lead making it 2-1 Bears. A strikeout by Alley ended the inning.
 
In the bottom of the seventh inning with one out, Ridley laced a ball into right field for a double, setting up Flowers with an opportunity. A fly out to right field moved Ridley up to third base and a balk call scored him to tie the game at 2-2.
 
After a scoreless top half of the eighth, the Dolphins were up facing a new arm for Central Arkansas. A leadoff walk to Justin Nadeau set up the dangerous Kris Armstrong with a runner on first. A deep drive off the right field wall for a double to put runners at second and third forced Central Arkansas to make a change on the mound. After a strikeout, Colin Wetterau hit a ground ball to first base. After some indecision by the Bears first baseman, Nadeau scored from third to give Jacksonville a 3-2 lead. On a wild pitch to DeLamielleure, another run in the form of Armstrong scored from third to make 4-2.
 
Chris Lotito came in to relive Allen in the ninth inning in a save situation. He slammed the door on the Bears, striking out the side in order.

COACH'S COMMENTS

 

ON DECK
 
The Dolphins are back at John Sessions Stadium on Saturday for game two against the Central Arkansas Bears. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
 
THREE STRIKES
 

• JU has won the first game of the weekend series in all six they have played this season
• Chris Lotitio picked up his ASUN Conference leading sixth save of the year
• Justin Nadeau hit his first career triple