LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Jacksonville (9-12, 3-1 ASUN) baseball defeated Bellarmine (1-20, 0-4 ASUN) by a score of 10-6 on Friday afternoon.

The Jacksonville offense caught fire in the middle of the game, adding eight total runs in the fifth and sixth innings, proving to be the difference for the 'Phins.

"Really proud of how our guys responded," said head coach Chris Hayes postgame. "We found ourselves down early in the game but kept battling and trusted our ability to get our bats going. I am happy with our pitching staff for pulling it together after a semi-rocky start. I thought Prescott finished strong, and Allman and Updike did their job to wrap things up."

Peyton Prescott (3-1) started on the bump for Jacksonville, pitching five innings, giving up five runs (four earned) off five hits, walking two and striking out three. The freshman earned the win, his third of the season and of his young career.

Bellarmine struck first, scoring a run on a base hit in the bottom of the first, but Prescott got out of the inning without any further damage.

The Dolphins were quick to respond, though. Abdriel Delgado got on base with a single up the middle, setting up Conner Spelman, who doubled him in to tie things up in the top of the second. Later in the inning, Cade Hentz reached on a throwing error by the Bellarmine shortstop, scoring Spelman in the process.

The Knights were ready to battle, though, responding with a solo homer in the bottom of the second to tie things up at two. They would later take the lead 5-2 after scoring three runs in the third inning.

After a scoreless fourth inning by both squads, the Dolphin bats came alive. Tanner Zellem rocked a solo shot to cut the lead to two. After Zellem's homer, Hentz walked, and Will Gale hit a base hit, setting up runners on first and second. Blake Edmonds laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt, advancing the runners to second and third. Justin Nadeau walked on four straight balls, setting up Josh Steidl with the bases loaded. Steidl got the job done, hitting a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Hentz and cutting the lead to one. Aidan Masters stepped up to bat and hit a two-RBI double, scoring Nadeau and Gale, to give the Dolphins the lead back, 6-5 in the top of the fifth.

Jacksonville came back up to bat in the sixth looking to deal more damage. The Dolphin batters remained patient, with Cade Hentz and Will Gale getting on base with walks, and Zellem getting on with a hit by pitch. This set up Blake Edmonds with the bases loaded, and he delivered, hitting a grand slam over the right field wall, extending the Jacksonville lead to 10-5.

Tommy Allman relieved Prescott in the bottom of the sixth to end Prescott's day. The Junior from Farmington Hills, Michigan, came in and retired the Knight batters 1-2-3.

The Knights would attempt to come back and inched closer with a solo shot in the bottom of the seventh to make it 10-6, but Jacksonville's pitching staff shut it down from there. Scout Updike relieved Tommy Allman in the bottom of the ninth to try and close the door on any Knights' attempt at a comeback. Allman pitched three innings, giving up an earned run, off only two hits, walking two and striking out five Knight batters.

Updike came in and shut the door, putting down the Bellarmine batters 1-2-3, striking out one and wrapping up the game, giving the 'Phins the victory.

Three Strikes:

    1.Justin Nadeau hit his team-leading ninth multi-hit game of the season.
    2.With his grand slam, Blake Edmonds set a personal season high in RBIs with four.
    3.Prescott, Allman, and Updike struck out a combined nine Knights hitters.

On Deck:
Jacksonville will play in game two of its weekend series against Bellarmine tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. at Knights Field. The game will be available to watch on ESPN+.