JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Kris Armstrong blasted three home runs and set a program single-game record with eight RBI to help fuel Jacksonville University baseball to a 17-2 win over Central Arkansas in seven-innings on Saturday.
 
The Dolphins (17-8, 3-2) exploded for a season-high in runs to capture an ASUN Conference series win at John Sessions Stadium.
 
Armstrong was the head of a major offensive effort, briefly moving into a tie for the national lead in homers with his performance. His first homer erased what was the only deficit of the day in the bottom of the first, and his next two help build an insurmountable lead.
 
UCA held a 1-0 lead after the top of the first, when the leadoff man singled, took second on a wild pitch, and then advanced to third on another wild pitch, scoring on the same play when the ball was thrown into left field. Christian Graham was able to settle down after that, stranding two men on thanks to a pair of flyouts to keep the Bears to just the one run.
 
JU answered quickly. Justin Nadeau drew a one-out walk, and Armstrong stepped up for the first time. He drilled a 1-1 pitch to center that kept carrying all the way out, putting the Dolphins on top 2-1.
 
After Graham struck on the side in the second, things escalated quickly in the bottom half. Tommy Joseph lined a one-out double to right, followed by Cam Ridley and Elias Flowers drawing walks to load the bases. Chase Malloy ripped a two-RBI single down the third baseline, and Nadeau followed with an opposite field single to load the bases again. This time, Armstrong clubbed a hanging changeup out to right for a grand slam and JU led 8-1 after two.
 
Graham had found a rhythm by then, pitching clean innings in the second, third and fourth, and retiring 11 in a row at one point.
 
The offense came back for more in the fourth. Nadeau again went to the opposite field for a one-out single to get it started. Armstrong followed with his third home run of the day, and blast to right field. With two outs, Colin Wetterau doubled to left and DeLamielleure was walked, setting up Joseph, who drove in Wetterau with his third hit of the day. Ridley walked to load the bases, and a wild pitch scored a fourth run of the frame, pushing the JU lead to 12-1.
 
Malloy was hit by a pitch to leadoff the fifth, and Nadeau laced his third hit of the day after that. Armstrong stood it and hit another rocket that slammed off the first base bag, popping straight up in the air and falling into shallow right for a loud single to load the bases. A passed ball scored Malloy from third and moved everyone up 90 feet, before Hogan McIntosh walked to load the bases again. Wetterau lifted a sacrifice fly to right centerfield and then DeLamielleure got in on the action, launching a three-run shot to left to make it 17-1.
 
Central Arkansas managed a leadoff home run in the sixth, but that was the only earned run off of Graham, who pitched the whole game to earn his second win of the year, holding the Bears to just three hits while striking out nine.
 
ON DECK
 
Jacksonville goes for the series sweep of Central Arkansas on Sunday, with first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m.

COACH'S COMMENTS

"Great to see our team respond with a complete effort today to win the series. Offensively, we did a great job of competing. Our guys put the ball in play with authority the entire day.

"Once Christian Graham got the lead, he was tremendous attacking the zone and keeping their hitters off balance."

- Head Coach Chris Hayes

 
THREE STRIKES (PLUS THREE HOME RUNS)
 

• Kris Armstrong's three home runs were the most in a game since Christian Coipel launched three at Florida State on April 6, 2021
• His eight RBI are the most for a Dolphin since at-least 2001 (when per game records are available), topping Scott Dubrule and Adam Brett Walker's seven in one game
• His 13 total bases also topped Phil Nover, Austin Hays and, most recently, Coipel, who all had 12 in a game
• Tommy Joseph had a personal-best four-hit day, going 4-4 with a double and an RBI
• Christian Graham registered his second career complete game, also matching his career-high of nine strikeouts for the third time this season
• JU has won four straight games, outscoring opponents 44-11 in that stretch