TALLAHASSEE, Fla.- The Jacksonville softball team split in its doubleheader with Florida A&M on Saturday afternoon.
 
Madison Reynolds had multiple hits in game one, and Averi Harcus had a pair in game two, while Harcus and Tatum McCool also had three RBIs in the afternoon. In the circle, the Dolphins (6-11) utilized three pitchers. As a staff, they surrendered four earned runs and struck out three in the afternoon.
 
"We are still searching for the right mix," said head coach Erica Ayers after the games. "Tatum drove in some big runs in game two, and we played much better defense as well. (Game two) was a solid bounce-back win."
 
GAME ONE
 
The Dolphins fell 5-2 in game one of the doubleheader, which turned out to be the Rattlers' softball field naming ceremony in honor of Veronica Wiggins. With both sides facing just one more batter than the minimum through 2.5 innings, FAMU broke the tie with a solo home run over the right field fence.
 
The Dolphins responded with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth inning to take their first lead of the afternoon. Allison Bratek doubled to right center, and Kari Holzrichter doubled to bring home Bratek. Madison Bratek then ripped a single through the left side and scored Alison Carter, who pinch-ran for Holzrichter on second.
 
JU's offensive burst stopped there, but the damage had been done. FAMU answered immediately in the home half of the fourth, starting the inning off with a leadoff triple. A one-out grounder to second resulted in a fielder's choice, but the batter reached safely on a throwing error while also scoring the Rattler who stood on third to tie the game, 2-2.
 
FAMU then took advantage of the extra opportunity and reached on two consecutive at-bats to load the bases. A Rattlers single through the left side gave FAMU the 3-2 lead, but a groundout to short ended the inning there. The Rattlers added a run on a single and triple in the fifth and eventually tallied another run to extend their lead to 5-2 in the sixth inning, which was the final score in game one.
 
Skylar Waggoner (1-5) started in the circle for the Dolphins and pitched a complete game. She surrendered four earned runs and struck out three.
 
GAME TWO
 
The Dolphins responded in a big way in game two of their doubleheader as they took down the Rattlers 8-2. Jacksonville's offensive burst started in the opening inning as the team capitalized on an error to score two with Holzrichter and Allison Bratek. Freshmen Tatum McCool and Jazz Jones then ripped a double and single, respectively, in the third inning, bringing home three more Dolphins to extend JU's lead to 5-0 early.
 
While FAMU loaded the bases in the home half of the third, Shelby Harpe (2-3) got a pop-up to the second baseman to escape the jam. Madison Bratek started the fourth inning with a single to left field, then stole second to get into scoring position with no outs. After a Holzrichter walk, Averi Harcus hit a single to score Bratek from second, putting the Dolphins up 6-0.
 
In the sixth, Madison Reynolds walked and stole second to lead off the inning, and an eventual groundout from Allison Bratek scored Reynolds, who wound up on third after a wild pitch. The Rattlers got a pair of runs back in the second after an error, double, and eventual groundout brought the second run across home. Jacksonville answered with a run to extend the lead to 8-2. Harcus singled through the right side and advanced to second, and then third after a passed ball and wild pitch. McCool grounded out to third on the next pitch, but Harcus scored.
 
Harpe finished with five innings pitched and surrendered no runs on four hits and three walks. Christa Pritchard came on in relief and pitched two innings, giving up no earned runs on two baserunners.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Dolphins play twice more in Tallahassee tomorrow, March 3. The first game starts at noon against Florida State, and the second has an estimated start time of 2:30 against FAMU. Both games will be played on the campus of Florida A&M.