JACKSONVILLE, Fla.- Jacksonville baseball (14-16, 8-3 ASUN) was triumphant on Saturday night, defeating North Alabama (11-18, 3-8 ASUN) 9-2.

The Dolphins used a four-run bottom of sixth to take the lead from the Lions and never looked back.

Richard Long started on the mound for the 'Phins. Long pitched 5.1 innings, giving up two runs (one earned), walked three and struck out four.

After a scoreless first two frames, North Alabama got on the board first with a groundout that scored a runner.

Coming up to bat heading into the bottom of the fifth, Jacksonville was still trailing by a run. Will Gale stepped to the plate and got things started with a lead-off double. Justin Nadeau came up to the plate later in the inning and lined the ball back up the middle, advancing Gale to third base. Hinrikus walked to load the bases, setting up Josh Steidl with the bases loaded. Steidl knocked the ball back to the pitcher who got the out at second base trying to turn two, but Steidl beat out the throw at first. Nadeau and Gale came into score to Jacksonville the 2-1 lead.

The Lions responded quickly with a solo shot to center, tying the game at two. Logan Jones came in later in the inning to relieve Long. With Lion runners on second and third, Jones got out of the inning with a punchout, keeping the game tied up.

Heading into the bottom of the six, the 'Phins were looking to break the tie. Chandler Howard started the inning off getting hit by a pitch. Nick DeLisi and Jackson Westmoreland both singled to load the bases for Jacksonville. Will Gale, Blake Edmonds, Tyler Hinrikus (hit by pitch) and Josh Steidl all earned bases loaded walks in some way, which gave the Dolphins a four spot in the sixth.

The Dolphins weren't done adding to their run total yet, as Hinrikus lined a double to right to score Nadeau and extend the lead to 7-2 in the bottom of the eighth. Howard added to the lead with a two-RBI base hit scoring Steidl and Hinrikus, to make it 9-2.

Jones remained in the game to close things out in the ninth and did just that to give the Dolphins the victory. The junior earned his second win of the season after an outing where he pitched 3.2 innings, giving up no hits or runs, walked one and struck out five.

Three Strikes

1. Nadeau, Howard, DeLisi all had multi-hit games.
2. Jones had five strikeouts tonight, a season high for the Junior.
3. Eight different Dolphins registered at least one hit tonight.

On Deck
Jacksonville is back home tomorrow at John Sessions Stadium for the series rubber match against North Alabama. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 PM, and the game can be streamed on ESPN+.