DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Jacksonville softball team won both of its games in a doubleheader with Bethune-Cookman in the last non-conference matchup of the regular season for the Dolphins.

Kassidy Pontbriant and Averi Harcus led the charge for the Dolphins (25,22, 13-8 ASUN) offensively with three hits apiece on the afternoon, while Alison Carter had a team-high three RBI in the doubleheader.

Jacksonville utilized four pitchers total, two in each game, and the staff allowed just two earned runs combined between the two games.

"Gritty not pretty," shared head coach Erica Ayers on her team's performance today."
 
GAME ONE

Bethune-Cookman jumped ahead early in game one of two, but Jacksonville rallied late to push the game to extra-innings to eventually clinch the first game.

Jordan White started in the circle for JU in game one, and after she allowed one run in the first inning, settled in to deliver three innings of bend-don't-break pitching. The freshman finished with three innings and allowed just one run on five hits and walked one. Christa Pritchard (2-1) pitched the final six innings to pick up her second victory of the season. Pritchard gave up four hits and no runs while striking out two.

After BCU scored in the first inning, Jacksonville responded in the fifth. Kari Holzrichter led off the frame with a double to left center, and a well-executed sacrifice bunt from Allison Bratek advanced the runner to third. Pontbriant then stepped to the plate and ripped a double to the outfield wall, which scored the Dolphins baserunner to tie the game. Both sides pitched well through the final two frames, and the game was headed to extras.

Neither side scored in the eighth, and, with the extra innings rule of softball placing a runner on second to start innings, the Dolphins used a sacrifice bunt from Madison Reynolds moved Lindsey Chadwick to third to start the ninth. After a lengthy at-bat from Kailey Harrigan, the senior ended it with a deep fly ball to right field that was deep enough for Chadwick to score and JU to take a 2-1 lead.

Heading to the bottom of the ninth, the leadoff batter for the Wildcats walked, but a heads-up play from Harcus behind the dish caught the lead runner at second to get the innings first out. After an error by the Dolphins defense, Pritchard got the next Wildcat batter to groundout to short. With runners on second and third, Pritchard then got the third and final out on a three-pitch strikeout to clinch the game for the Dolphins.
 
GAME TWO

The Dolphins scored five runs in the third and sixth innings to separate themselves from the Wildcats to complete the midweek, doubleheader sweep.

Seven Dolphins recorded a hit in game two. Averi Harcus, Allison Bratek and Kassidy Pontbriant each had multi-hit games, while Madison Reynolds, Alison Carter and Pontbriant all had multiple RBI on the day.

After both sides scored in the second inning, the game saw the Wildcats hold a 2-1 lead. Jacksonville promptly responded with a five-spot in the third. Kari Holzrichter ripped a single the opposite way to left field to start the rally, and Allison Bratek did the same two batters later to give the Dolphins the lead right back. Alison Carter then hit into a fielder's choice and scored Averi Harcus from third, and Pontbriant then scored Chadwick from third on a groundout to first to see JU up 5-2. The Dolphins added their final run of the inning on a failed pickoff attempt, and Carter crossed home, taking advantage of the mishap, and taking the then 6-2 lead.

The Wildcats added one more in the home half of the third but would not score the rest of the game. Jacksonville used a second five spot to put the game away for good in the sixth. Carter started the rally this time, hitting an RBI single up the middle that scored Reese Wells from third. Pontbriant continued her hot day from the plate with an RBI single to left, and a sacrifice fly from Dacie Waterson saw JU up 9-3. To cap the rally, Madison Reynolds ripped a bases clearing, two-RBI double down the left field line, putting JU up 11-3.

Shelby Harpe, who relieved Wells in the sixth, shutdown Bethune-Cookman in the sixth to send Jacksonville home with the eight-run victory.
 
 
UP NEXT

The Dolphins return to action for their regular season finale against Queens University Charlotte. Game one of Friday's doubleheader against the Royals is slated for 2 pm on May 3, with game two scheduled for 4:30 pm. Both games can be streamed on ESPN+