LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Jacksonville softball team ended its first weekend of ASUN play with a 10-5 victory over Bellarmine on Saturday afternoon.
 
Five Dolphins (11-15, 1-2 ASUN) had multi-hit days, and an additional three had at least two RBIs as the Jacksonville offense erupted for 10 runs in its first conference win of the season.

"The offense putting up 10 was huge after a bit of a frustrating day yesterday," said head coach Erica Ayers. 
 
The top of the JU order, consisting of Madison Reynolds, Madison Bratek, and Averi Harcus, combined for six of the 11 Dolphin hits on the afternoon. Harcus added three RBIs on the afternoon, bringing her season total up to 14, which ranks second on the team behind Kailey Harrigan.
 
The Jacksonville offense exploded for six runs in the third inning to separate itself from the Knights early. Jazz Jones, Madison Reynolds, and Madison Bratek all reached base consecutively, and Averi Harcus hit a two-run single to extend the JU lead to 3-0. After a pop-out, Kari Holzricther hit a two-RBI single into left-center. Alison Carter then put the exclamation point on the inning, blasting a two-run home run over the right-field fence and giving JU an early 7-0 lead. Jacksonville's offense tallied a pair more in the fourth inning on singles from Madison Bratek and Averi Harcus.
 
Before the eight-run burst from JU across two innings, the Dolphins had struck first in the first inning off a Kailey Harrigan groundout that scored Madison Reynolds from third.
 
Bellarmine responded with one run in the third and four in the fourth to bring the game back to within four, 9-5. A single from Shewmaker and an eventual double from Konermann got the Knights on the board in the third. BU loaded the bases in the fourth, and subsequent single, groundout, and double down the left-field line gave the Knights a fighting chance down four as the game headed to the fifth.
 
Jacksonville was determined to end the first weekend of ASUN play with a win and responded immediately. Carter continued to swing the bat well and led the fifth off with a first-pitch single. Lindsey Chadwick then roped a double down the left-field line to score Carter and give JU the 10-5 lead.
 
Jordan White (1-0), who entered the game partway through the fourth inning in relief of Shelby Harpe, sat down the Knights in order in the fifth and seventh innings and allowed just one hit in the sixth inning to prevent any thought of a comeback from Bellarmine and give JU its first conference win of the season.

"Jordan White gave us big innings today," added Ayers. "First pressure packed innings for her this year and she performed well." 

UP NEXT

The Dolphins return to action next weekend as they host the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles for the first home conference series of the weekend. Saturday will be game one and two of the three-part series and first pitch of game one is slated for 2 pm.