JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville softball team split its doubleheader against Bucknell and Marist on Tuesday afternoon.
Jacksonville alum's Sarah Sigrest and Joe Ausanio returned to lead the opposition as the head coaches of Bucknell and Marist, respectively. Sigrest is the JU Softball career wins leader and was the ASUN Pitcher of the Year in 2011. Ausanio graduated as the Jacksonville baseball program's all-time leader in saves and appearances in 1988.
Allison Bratek finished the day with three hits in seven AB's and had an additional walk.
Kailey Harrigan had a multi-hit game and
Skylar Waggoner came on in relief in both games and surrendered just one hit and struck out four on the day.
GAME ONE VERSUS BUCKNELL
The Dolphins took down the Bucknell Bison 9-4 in game one of the afternoon.
Jacksonville scored in each of the first five innings and put-up crooked numbers in the second and fifth innings. The Dolphins biggest inning came in the fifth, as all four of the JU runs were scored with two outs.
Jazz Jones reached on an error originally and proceeded to steal second.
Madison Reynolds then hit a laser that gave the Bison leftfielder issues scored Jones from second. A
Madison Bratek eight pitch walked chased the Bucknell pitcher and a third Bison error of the inning loaded the bases with Jacksonville up 6-3.
Kailey Harrigan and
Gabi Robles then hit consecutive singles to score a combined three runs and give the Dolphins their nine runs on the night.
In a game full of baserunners and long at-bats from both sides, JU reached base a total of 15 times. Harrigan had her second multi-hit game in the past three contests with her two hits and two RBI game. She also recorded her fifth double of the season in the process.
Madison Bratek walked a season-high three times in the game and her sister Allison reached base twice.
Kassidy Pointbriant rounded out the four Dolphins in the game who reached base more than once with her one hit, one walk performance.
Reese Wells (2-0) started in the circle for the Dolphins and pitched five innings. She struck out five and surrendered six hits and zero earned runs in her second victory of the season. The freshman's five innings are a career high, and her five strikeouts more than doubled her season total. Fellow freshman
Skylar Waggoner pitched the final two frames and gave up just one hit and struck out a pair of Bison.
GAME TWO VERSUS MARIST
Jacksonville fell in game two of the evening to the Marist Rod Foxes, 2-1.
Marist struck first in the fourth inning. The Red Foxes first two batters reached in the inning with a single and an error by the Dolphins infield. After a popup, another single, this time a two RBI knock, from Marist broke the deadlock. Harpe navigated the rest of the inning and limited the damage, but the Red Foxes led 2-0.
Jacksonville responded in its half of the fourth inning as two of the first three batters reached in Harrigan and Kari Holzricther. After a strikeout from JU, Dacie Waterson took a five pitch walk to load the bases.
Jazz Jones followed suite with a well-earned seven pitch walk to cut the Marist lead in half, but the damage stopped there, and JU entered the fifth down 2-1.
The Dolphins got a runner in scoring position in the fifth and had another baserunner in the seventh but was unable to see the runner score to get over the hump and tie the game the rest of the way.
Skylar Waggoner entered the circle in relief for the second game of the day and got six quick outs between the sixth and seventh innings to keep JU within one.
Shelby Harpe (3-4) started and allowed one earned run in five innings of work. She struck out a pair of Red Foxes and gave up five hits.
UP NEXT
The Dolphins start their conference season this weekend in Louisville, Kentucky against the Bellarmine Knights. Games one and two are on Friday, March 15, with first pitch of game one to start at 3 pm.
