CONWAY, Ark.- Jacksonville baseball (13-13, 7-1 ASUN) took on Central Arkansas (11-15, 3-5 ASUN) on Friday and won confidently in seven innings, with the final score being 15-1.

The Dolphins bats proved to be the difference today as they were relentless, scoring at least one run in six of the seven innings.

Richard Long started on the mound and pitched the Dolphins' first complete game of the 2024 season. Long pitched seven innings, and gave up only one run off three hits, walked three and punched out three.

Jacksonville once again used a hot start to put them ahead, putting up a three spot in the top of the first. Josh Steidl brought in Will Gale on a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0. Cade Hentz drove in Blake Edmonds to push the lead to two and Nick DeLisi walked with the bases loaded to put the Dolphins ahead by three.

The Dolphins extended their lead to four in the top of the second, with Justin Nadeau doubling in Gale.

In the top of the third, the Dolphins were poised for another big inning. Jackson Westmoreland laid a perfect SAC bunt down to score Hentz making it 5-0. Blake Edmonds drove in Nick DeLisi to put the Dolphins up six and Chandler Howard moved the lead to 7-0 after a base hit through the left side. Clayton Hodges drove in Nadeau on a fielding error by the Bears shortstop to extend the lead to eight.

A solo shot by Nick DeLisi, his first as a Dolphin, put Jacksonville ahead by nine in the top of the fourth.

The Dolphins offense stayed on fire, adding another two runs in the top of the fifth off a Hodges sacrifice fly that scored Nadeau, as well as a Hentz double to score Howard, putting the Dolphins now up eleven.

Central Arkansas posted their one and only run in the top of the fifth off a sacrifice fly.

In the top of the seventh, Westmoreland recorded his first career hit, which was a bases clearing grand slam to add on to the 'Phins lead. The freshman from Ball Ground, Georgia finished with five RBIs on the day.

Long was determined to finish out the game and did just that putting the Bears batters down 1-2-3, to earn the complete game win and give Jacksonville the victory in both the game and the series.

"Overall it was a very clean game in all facets of the game," head coach Chris Hayes commented postgame. "Richard Long was fantastic on the mound, our bats came alive today and we held things down defensively.  Super proud of how our guys came out and handled business today."

Three Strikes

1. Eight different Dolphin batters registered an RBI today
2. Richard Long pitched the first complete game for Jacksonville this year, his second of his career.
3. Jacksonville tied their season high for walks with 10 today (Had 10 walks against Ball State on 3/2/24)

Up Next
Jacksonville returns to Bear Stadium on Friday for game three of their weekend series vs. Central Arkansas looking to clinch the sweep. First pitch is scheduled for noon.