JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville Baseball (20-20, 14-6 ASUN) walked off Queens (11-32, 7-13 ASUN) on Saturday night with a final score of 5-4.
Blake Edmonds stepped into a clutch situation when he got the call to pinch hit with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the ninth. He delivered by beating out the throw by the Royals shortstop, driving in Jaden Bastian to win the game and clinch the weekend series for the Dolphins.
Evan Chrest started on the mound for the Dolphins tonight; he pitched 5.1 innings and struck out five.
The Dolphins scored first in the second after Will Gale took a pitch to the shoulder with the bases loaded, scoring Steidl to make the score 1-0.
Queens responded in the next half-inning with an RBI single to tie things up 1-1. The next Royals batter came up to bat and lined a double that scored two Royals runners to give Queens the lead 3-1.
The Royals added to their lead with a solo home run in the top of the fifth to make it 4-1.
Jacksonville came up to bat in the home half of the fifth, determined to get the offense going. The bats got a jumpstart with base knocks from Chandler Howard and Tyrell Brewer. Steidl came up next to the plate and shot a double to the fence that scored both Howard and Brewer, cutting the deficit down to one, 4-3.
Logan Jones relieved Chrest in the sixth, ending his day; he finished with a no-decision. Jones held the Royals hitless through the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings, but the Dolphins still trailed 4-3 heading into the ninth.
Peyton Prescott got the call from the bullpen to relieve Jones in the top of the ninth; he produced a 4-6-3 double play and a strikeout to give the Dolphins one last chance to tie things up or walk it off.
Gale led off the home half of the ninth with a single to get the tying run aboard. Later in the inning, Howard stepped up to the plate and smacked a line drive down the right field line, recording a triple and scoring Gale from first to tie things up at four.
With Howard being the winning run on third, Jaden Bastian out of the dugout to pinch run. Brewer and Steidl drew 3-0 counts and then were intentionally walked to load the bases for Jacksonville. Edmonds stepped up to the plate and lined a ground ball that Queens attempted to turn into a double play to send the game into extras, but Edmonds ran it out and was safe, giving the Dolphins the victory, 5-4. Prescott earned his fourth win of the season.
What They Said
Three Strikes
- Chandler Howard had his sixth multi-hit game of the season and hit his first triple of the season.
- The Dolphins stayed patient at the plate; Clayton Hodges, Josh Steidl, and Abdriel Delgado had two walks.
- Jacksonville is now 6-1 in ASUN Conference weekend series play this year.
Up Next
The 'Phins return home to John Sessions tomorrow afternoon, looking to clinch the sweep against the Royals. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 PM.
