LOUISVILLE, KY- Jacksonville baseball (10-12, 4-1 ASUN) came out victorious against Bellarmine (1-21, 0-5 ASUN) with the final score being 16-14.
With both the Knights and Dolphins responding back and forth throughout the game, a Jaden Bastain pinch-hit, two-run homerun in the top of the ninth, separated the Dolphins, propelling them to a win.
Richard Long got the start on the mound, pitching four innings, giving up six earned runs off nine hits, with a walk and five strikeouts. He was given a no decision.
The Dolphins started off the game with the bats active, scoring three runs in the top of the first. The first came when
Justin Nadeau reached on a fielder's choice, bringing in
Will Gale.
Peyton Prescott then hit a SAC fly scoring Nadeau.
Josh Steidl scored on a passed ball to make it 3-0 early.
Bellarmine responded right back, with a base hit RBI to make it 3-1. The next Knight batter hit a two-RBI double to tie things up at 3-3.
After a scoreless second and third inning by both squads,
Justin Nadeau stepped up to the plate in the top of the fourth and smacked a three-run homer to give the 'Phins the lead 6-3. Bellarmine responded quickly in the bottom of the fourth, matching three runs right back, tying it back up 6-6.
Logan Jones came in to relieve Long in the bottom of the fifth and started his appearance off hot, striking out two.
Nadeau broke the tie with a base hit that drove in Gale, putting the Dolphins back in front 7-6, but the 'Phins bats weren't done yet. Later in the inning,
Chandler Howard came in to pinch hit for DH
Peyton Prescott with the bases loaded. Howard took advantage of the opportunity and lined a single through the right side. In the next at-bat,
Nick DeLisi came up to bat and hit a two-RBI double down the left-field line, scoring Steidl and Howard, to make it 11-6 Jacksonville. The Dolphins weren't still weren't finished in the inning though, as
Tanner Zellem came up to bat and hit a single to left, scoring DeLisi and making the score 12-6.
Bellarmine answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the sixth, scoring a run on a wild pitch making it 12-7. Later in the inning, the Knights scored one more when a Knights batter grounded out to first, but that was enough to get the runner home, making it 12-8.
After a quiet top of the seventh by Jacksonville, Bellarmine was back up to bat.
Chris Lotito relieved Jones to start the bottom of the seventh. Jones finished his outing going two innings, giving up two earned runs, off one hit, walked two and struck out three. Lotito faced three batters, surrendered a hit and struck out one.
Divine Valle would come into take over for Lotitio looking to end the inning. Bellarmine cut the Dolphin lead down to two with a two-RBI double, to make the score now 12-10, but Valle would get out of the inning without any further damage.
Jacksonville punched back in the top of the eighth, adding a pair of runs to extend their lead. A
Cade Hentz sacrifice fly scored
Clayton Hodges and made it 13-10 and later in the inning Howard scored on a wild pitch to make it 14-10.
Jack Carver came in to take over for Valle. Valle recorded an out and gave up an earned run off a hit and walked one. Bellarmine once again countered, scoring three runs in the bottom of the eighth. Issac Williams came in after the lead was cut down to one, and ended the inning striking out a Knight batter on a 3-2 count. Carver finished with 0.2 innings pitched, surrendered three earned runs, off three hits and struck out one Knight batter.
The Dolphins entered the top of the ninth looking to add some insurance runs to extend their lead. Nadeau walked to get on base and a Steidl sacrifice bunt moved him over to second.
Jaden Bastian came in to pinch hit for
Chandler Howard and delivered in the clutch, hitting a two-run homerun to make it 16-13 Jacksonville.
The Knights made an attempt to comeback in the bottom of the ninth and came fairly close, hitting a RBI single to cut the Jacksonville lead to two. Williams shut down any further traffic though, securing the Dolphin victory and earning his fourth save of the season. Williams finished with a stat line of 1.1 innings pitched, gave up one earned run off three hits, walking one and a strikeout. Jones got the win, his first of the season.
Three Strikes
- Four Dolphin batters finished with multiple hits in the game; Nick DeLisi (two), Justin Nadeau (two), Will Gale (two) and Clayton Hodges (three)
- Justin Nadeau finished with a season high four RBIs on the day; three of them coming from his first homerun of the season.
- The Jacksonville pitching staff combined for 11 strikeouts on the day.
On Deck
Jacksonville will conclude its weekend series in game three at Knights Field tomorrow, with the Dolphins looking to sweep the series. First pitch is scheduled for Noon.
