JACKSONVILLE, Ala.- The Jacksonville Dolphins completed an immaculate comeback Sunday to win 6-5 and clinch the series over Jacksonville State.

In the top of the ninth in a tie ball game, Tommy Joseph and Blake DeLamielleure reached in consecutive at-bats to set the scene for Jacksonville (24-13, 8-5 ASUN). Josh Steidl followed up with a six pitch walk and the bases were loaded for the Dolphins with nobody out. After a quick strikeout, Colin Wetterau hit a short hopper to the first baseman, who opted to throw home to try and get the lead runner Joseph out. The throw was late and off the mark and JU had their first lead of the game. Shortly after, Justin Nadeau hit a ground ball just hard enough to evade the first basemen's outstretched glove and Steidl came around to score and expand the lead. Though the inning ended there, the damage had been done in Jacksonville's favor.

"Games like this continue to solidify who this team is," said head coach Chris Hayes after the game. "It didn't go well for us early. Richy (Long) was getting hit around the field early and gave up some runs; but was able to find a way to recover and gave us five and two-thirds of really special baseball. He gave us a chance offensively. Their starter was good and had us off balance the whole day. We finally scratched a couple runs across, got into their pen and Kris Armstrong delivers a big blow like he has all year to ignite the dugout and get us right back in the middle of this game."

The nation's leader in saves Chris Lotito entered for the ninth inning for the second time this weekend. Lotito gave up two quick hits and one run and suddenly the tying run was on second with nobody out. The redshirt sophomore settled in immediately though and got a ground ball out to third followed by a five-pitch strikeout and the Dolphins dugout was increasingly turning up the volume. On the very first pitch of the final at-bat, JSU's Jackson hit a hard grounder to Nadeau, who flipped the ball onto first and shut down the thought of any comeback. For Lotito, it was his 11^th save of the season.

"I'm just trying to throw strikes and keep batters off balance and let my fielders do their thing," said Lotito. "I try to not let any moment get to me and just keep focused."

After struggling to get runners across home in the early part of the game, Hogan McIntosh blasted a seventh inning solo shot to give Jacksonville their second run of the afternoon. In the next frame, Justin Nadeau reached on a fielder's choice to keep the inning alive and up steps Kris Armstrong, who entering today was second in the nation in home runs. Armstrong, who had had an otherwise quiet weekend until that point, delivered in an empathetic way with a two-run moon shot that seemed like it was never going to come down. When it did, it was well over the fence and the game was tied.

Bryce Fisher (2-2) entered the game in the sixth inning in relief of starter Richard Long and was crucial in keeping the Dolphins in the game. Fisher was lights out in his 2.1 innings of work – only surrendering one base hit and picking up a strikeout to complement it. Long, who gave up four runs in the first two innings, settled into the game and shutout the Gamecocks in the final 3.2 innings of work.

"Having no games this (mid)week helps us recover, we're a little banged up so it gives us a chance to recover, get healthy and prepare for a really good Austin Peay team that's coming in with a lot of momentum."
 
ON DECK
The Dolphins return to action next weekend with a home series against Austin Peay.
 
THREE STRIKES
1. Chris Lotito's 11^th save is first in the country
2. Justin Nadeau recorded three hits in the game and eight knocks on the weekend
3. This weekend series win was the Dolphins first on the road this season.