DELAND, Fla. – Jacksonville University baseball succumbed to a six-run seventh inning, falling 9-2 to Stetson on Friday night at Melching Field.
The Dolphins (29-20, 13-12) were within one-run, either leading or trailing, until the big seventh allowed the Hatters to separate.
"I thought we played extremely well for six innings," said Head Coach
Chris Hayes. "For six innings, that what Friday night baseball looks like.
"A little uncharacteristic for this group and it just kind of unraveled on us."
JU struck first, using a two-out rally to plate a run in the third.
Elias Flowers slapped a single and after falling behind
Kris Armstrong 2-0 in the count, Stetson intentionally walked him to bring up
Justin Nadeau with two-on and two-out. The freshman shot one to third that was misplayed and bounced into left field, scoring Flowers and putting runners at second and third before the Hatters finally got out the inning.
They responded quickly, tying the game in the bottom half with a little two-out magic of their own. The leadoff hitter singled, and after
Evan Chrest retired the next two batters, a wild pitch advanced the runner into scoring position and he came in on a double to right center to knot the game at 1-1.
Stetson took the lead for good in the fourth. Once again, the leadoff man reached on a single. He was replaced at first on a fielder's choice and a two-out single put two on. Another base knock gave Stetson the lead, and a grounder to short after that led to an error and an additional run scored, making it 3-1 Hatters after four.
In the sixth, JU crept closer, thanks to
Blake DeLamielleure's leadoff triple, which set the table.
Colin Wetterau lifted a deep fly to center to plate him and make it 3-2.
Two men got on again in the seventh, but a double play ended the opportunity.
The first two men reached to start the bottom of the seventh, and a bunt single loaded the bases. A wild pitch plated one and a bases clearing triple to right pushed the lead 6-2. A sacrifice fly scored another, and another triple, error and RBI single pushed the lead to six, with the Hatters bringing 10 to the plate.
"You can't let one bad inning carry with you into the next day," said Hayes. "You have to be mentally tough enough to move on, forget about it and be ready to play the next day."
ON DECK
Jacksonville faces Stetson on Saturday night, looking to even the series at 1-1, with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Melching Field.
THREE STRIKES
