JACKSONVILLE,Fla.- Jacksonville Baseball played a doubleheader on Saturday against the Delaware Blue Hens at John Sessions Stadium.

"Loved the way we competed in game one," said head coach Chris Hayes. "We were driving guys in and battling well, and I thought we were competing early on in game two, but we faced tough conditions with the wind and didn't make the necessary adjustments on the mound. With that being said, we also needed to step up on the offensive side in game two and get run support with the bats."

Game One:
In game one, the Dolphins (3-1) defeated the Blue Hens (2-2), 10-7 to open up the weekend series.

Evan Chrest got the start and worked five innings, striking out six, and earned his first win of the 2024 season.

The Dolphins and Blue Hens went scoreless in the first and in the top of the second, Chrest put down Delaware in order. A leadoff single and a one-out walk had the Dolphins in business. Nick Delisi added an RBI on a perfectly executed hit-and-run to give Jacksonville the early advantage, 1-0. Cade Hentz kept it going with an RBI double to make it 2-0. Nick and Cade both took home on wild pitches making it 4-0 Dolphins.

In the top of the third, Delaware quickly responded with an RBI single to cut the Dolphin lead to 4-1. Chrest worked around further traffic ending the half inning with a strikeout to strand a runner.

The Blue Hens cut into the lead with a solo shot to make it 4-2 in the top of the fourth but Chrest continued to sit down Delaware hitters.

The Dolphins added to their lead when Cade Hentz reached first base safely on a fielder's choice that scored a run to stretch the lead to 5-2. Later in the inning, Blake Edmonds smacked a three-run home run over the right field wall to stretch the Jacksonville lead to 8-2.

Delaware responded with a deep blast to straightaway centerfield for a two-run home run that made the score 8-4, Dolphins. Chrest got out of the top of the fifth without further trouble.

Dylan Faulkner came to the mound to start the sixth. The lefty put down the Blue Hens in order with two strikeouts. In the top of the seventh, Delaware continued to chip away at the lead with another two-run home run, making it 8-6. Faulkner struck out the next two batters to end the inning.

Scout Updike came in to pitch the eighth inning after no runs were scored in the seventh by either squad. The Blue Hens cut the lead down to one, with a solo home run 8-7. The Redshirt Sophomore from Eustis, Fla. continued to battle and recorded a strikeout for the first out then rolled a double play (6-4-3) to end the inning and hold the lead.

The Dolphins were looking to add insurance runs and got off to a great start with Tyrell Brewer hitting an opposite-field single. Brewer then stole second base and advanced to third on a throwing error by the Blue Hens catcher. After an intentional walk to Clayton Hodges, Nick Delisi smacked an RBI single up the middle to make it 9-7. Nick and Clayton moved up to second and third on a second throwing error. Cade Hentz hit an RBI sacrifice fly to right field to extend the lead to three runs, making it 10-7.

Issac Williams came in to pitch the top of the ninth and shut things down. The freshman was credited with his first career save as he struck out two and helped Jacksonville win game one of the series.

Game Two:
The Dolphins (3-2) completed their doubleheader against the Delaware Blue Hens (3-2) but fell 14-4.

Tommy Allman got the call on the mound for the Dolphins in game two. Allman threw 3.2 innings while registering three strikeouts and two walks.

The Blue Hens got off to a hot start in the first inning, putting six runs on the board in the opening frame.

A leadoff walk to Will Gale started off the home half of the first as Jacksonville tries to chip into the early deficit. Gale would then swipe second base with Tanner Zellem at the plate to put himself into scoring position. Zellem took advantage and slapped one the opposite way for an RBI single to make it 6-1.

Tommy bounced back the second time through the order and dealt a three up, three down second inning. In the home half, Connor Spielman hit a one-out double into left-centerfield and then advanced to third on a wild pitch to put a runner 90 feet away. Will Gale stepped up to the plate and delivered an RBI single to make it 6-2.

Allman seemed to be settling into a groove as he put up another zero in the third but Delaware answered with a triple play to get through the bottom half of the inning.

The Blue Hens added to their lead with a three-run home run as well as a solo shot to make it 10-2 in the fourth. Divine Valle came in to relieve Tommy Allman and ended the inning.

Chandler Howard led off the home half of the fourth with a solo home run to right field to make it 10-3 Delaware. Later in the inning, Will Gale hit one off the left-centerfield wall for an RBI triple as the Dolphins kept chipping away, now 10-4.

Peyton Prescott relieved Divine Valle to start the fifth, and Valle forced a groundout against his one lone batter.

"Peyton Prescott did an outstanding job out of the pen, giving us a chance in game two." said Hayes.

Aidan Kelly came in to relieve Prescott with one away in the 9th inning. The Blue Hens added some more insurance adding four more runs in the ninth. Tommy Allman took the loss for Jacksonville.

Three Strikes:

1. Will Gale has opened up 2024 with a five-game hitting streak
2. Blake Edmonds and Chandler Howard both hit their first big shots of the year.
3. For the second time this season, Jacksonville put up double-digit runs.

"The goal of every weekend is to win the series and we have that opportunity tomorrow," said Hayes. "As a team, I know our guys are going to come out with great effort and we believe in Richard Long to give us a great start."

On Deck:

Jacksonville and Delaware will face off on Sunday afternoon for the series-deciding rubber match. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm at John Sessions Stadium for Family Fin Day, and the game can be followed via live stats on JUDolphins.com.