JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Jacksonville softball team got back to winning ways with its 4-2 victory over the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles on Monday afternoon.

Freshmen Jordan White (2-0) and Reese Wells combined to pitch all seven innings for the Dolphins. For White, it was her first start of the season and the longest she has thrown in her career as the Winter Haven native pitched five strong innings in the circle and surrendered just one earned run on four hits. Wells came in relief in the top of the sixth and allowed just one baserunner on a walk in her six-out save.

Madison Bratek and Alison Carter both had multi-hit days for the Dolphins offensively to help power JU. Madison Reynolds' patience at the plate paid off as she had a game-high two walks as well.

"We needed that," said head coach Erica Ayers. "It's still sort of early in the conference season but we can't dig ourselves into too big of a hole. I'm looking forward to see if we can put together a few complete games in a row like today."

Jacksonville struck first in the first inning with two runs and added another pair of runs in the second inning to double its lead. The rally started when Reynolds earned a seven-pitch walk, and Kari Holzricther walked on four straight pitches to follow. Kailey Harrigan then ripped a double into left center, scoring Reynolds from second and putting Holzrichter on third. Averi Harcus then went first-pitch swinging to send a fly ball to deep center field, which resulted in a sacrifice fly to score Holzricther from third.

The second inning's damage started with Carter hitting an infield single. After a pair of flyouts from JU, Madison Bratek singled to left center, and a fielding error on a hop by the Eagles outfielder saw Carter capitalize and score all the way from first. After Reynolds' second walk of the day, Holzrichter slapped a single to center field to score the speedy Maddie Bratek from second and see JU up 4-0.

FGCU scored its runs in the top half of the second inning. After a pair of singles were matched by a pair of outs but had Eagles on the corners, FGCU attempted a delayed double steal. The Dolphins, who were committed to the runner in between first and second, mistakenly threw the ball away and into left field, causing both FGCU runners to cross home and cut the Dolphins' lead down to 4-2. After an Eagles walk, an athletic double play that started with Madison Reynolds at shortstop ended the rally and kept JU in front.

The remainder of the game saw both pitching staffs face one more batter than the minimum through two innings, as both pitchers who came on in relief were in lockdown mode for their respective sides. The top of the seventh saw an 11-pitch 1-2-3 inning for Wells as she clinched her first career save in the process.

UP NEXT
The Dolphins return to the diamond at Kennesaw State for a three-game series before Easter on Friday, March 29. Game one is set for Friday and is slated to start at 6 pm.