JACKSONVILLE, Fla.- Jacksonville baseball (15-16, 9-3 ASUN) walked it off in extra innings against North Alabama (11-19, 3-9 ASUN) to clinch the series win.

Clayton Hodges once again delivered in a clutch situation, driving in the winning run with a single in the bottom of the 10th.

Evan Chrest started off on the mound for Jacksonville and pitched 4.2 innings, giving up four runs (none of them earned), off five hits, walked four and struck out five. He was given a no-decision.

The Dolphins came up to bat in the first looking to strike early. Justin Nadeau got on base first for Jacksonville with a walk on a 3-1 count. Tyler Hinrikus came up to bat and drove a single back up the middle, moving Nadeau to third. Head Coach Chris Hayes called for Hinrikus to steal, baiting the Lions catcher to throw to second, but Hinrikus was safe at second and Nadeau dashed home to give the 'Phins the early 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth Josh Steidl sent a ball deep that banged off the scoreboard at John Sessions Stadium, putting Jacksonville up two.

The at the time quiet Lion bats woke up in the fifth, tying things up with a two-RBI double. Later in the inning, North Alabama loaded the bases and took advantage, plating two more runs off base-on-balls which saw the score at 4-2, Lions. Jack Carver came in to relieve Chest and navigated out of the rest of the inning with no further damage.

The following half inning, Steidl came up to bat and delivered yet again, tying the game at four apiece with a two-RBI double, scoring Hinrikus and Nadeau.

Blake Barquin came in to pitch in the sixth taking over for Carver. Barquin pitched through the eighth, holding the Lions scoreless, giving up only two hits, walked three and recorded one punchout. Jacksonville couldn't plate a run either though and the ballgame went into the ninth still locked up at four.

Issac Williams came into pitch at the top of the ninth, looking to hold the Lions scoreless and give the 'Phins a chance to win it in the ninth. Williams handled business himself, striking out three, setting up the 'Phins in the bottom of the ninth with a chance to win.

Jacksonville did not score in the ninth and the Sunday crowd was given extra baseball as the game headed into the 10th.
Issac Williams stayed in to pitch and dominated, raking up three more strikeouts sending Jacksonville to the bottom of the 10th with another opportunity to win.

Justin Nadeau started things off on the right foot for the 'Phins with a base knock to get the winning run on base. Hinrikus laid a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt to move Nadeau into scoring position. Steidl then came up to the plate and was intentionally walked to set up the Lions with a double play opportunity, potentially. Hodges came up to bat with a chance to walk it off and came through, hitting a single to right that scored Nadeau and the Dolphins secured the win in dramatic fashion. Issac Williams was credited with the win, his second of the season.

What They Said


Three Strikes

1. Clayton Hodges walk-off single was his second walk-off of the season, his first against Valparaiso which gave the Dolphins the win, 6-5.
2. Issac Williams struck out every batter he faced (six), setting a new single-game high for the 2024 season as well as the highest of his career.
3. With Josh Steidl's three RBIs on the day, it gave him his 10th multi-RBI game of the 2024 season, which ranks first on the team.

On Deck

Jacksonville heads to Clarksville, Tennessee next weekend to take on Austin Peay in their fifth conference series. With today's win, the Dolphins have now won all four conference series they have played in. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM EST.