JACKSONVILLE, Fla.- Jacksonville Baseball took game one of their weekend series against Kennesaw State on Friday night, defeating the Owls with a final score of 6-2.
The Dolphins played a complete game with an outstanding outing from Richard Long who pitched seven strong innings, registering 10 strikeouts on the night. In the sixth inning, Jaden Bastian gave the Dolphins the lead with a 436-foot grand slam that gave JU a four-run lead they never relinquished.
After Long started the game off hot with two strikeouts in the first, the Dolphins looked to attack early at the plate. Blake Edmonds and Tyrell Brewer remained patient at the plate both drawing walks to get a pair of runners on for the 'Phins. Chandler Howard came up to the plate next and delivered with a double to deep right-center that scored both Edmonds and Brewer to give JU the early 2-0 lead.
Both the Owls and Dolphins were both held scoreless in the second and third innings; Long added three more strikeouts to move his total to five through three innings.
Kennesaw State got on the board in the fourth after the Dolphins just narrowly missed turning a 6-4-3 double play. The Owls tied things up with a sacrifice fly later in the inning.
Both pitchers found a mid-game groove as the game remained deadlocked at two through the top of the sixth. Edmonds looked to jumpstart the 'Phin's offense and did just that with a double down the left field line. Brewer came up to bat next and laid a perfect bunt down the third base line to pick up a single as well as advance Edmonds to third. Howard came up to bat and flew a ball high up in the Jacksonville sky where the catcher lost sight of the ball, letting it drop and all of a sudden, the Dolphins found themselves with the bases loaded and no outs. Freshman Jaden Bastian came up to bat and cleared the bases with a deep shot to left center for a grand slam to put Jacksonville ahead 6-2.
Long struck out the side in the seventh to run his punchout total to 10 on the night. After 104 pitches, the Juniors night came to an end when Jack Carver relieved him in the top of the eighth. Carver retired the side in the eighth, sending Jacksonville back up to the plate with a chance to add insurance runs late.
The 'Phins couldn't add a run in the eighth and Divine Valle entered the game out of the bullpen in the ninth looking to shut down the game in the ninth. Valle ran into a little trouble with the Owls loading the bases with one out, but he handled business and shut the game out with a strikeout and a 4-3 groundout to give Jacksonville a pivotal game-one victory. Richard Long earned his fifth win of the season, moving him to 5-2 on the year.
What They Said
Three Strikes
- Jaden Bastian hit his 6th home run of the season, moving him into second on the team (Josh Steidl-8)
- Richard Long pitched his fifth consecutive start where the Junior at least pitched six innings. His 10 strikeouts are the second-highest in a single game by a Dolphin this season (Long had 11 at home against Queens).
- Blake Edmonds and Chandler Howard both had multi-hit games.
Up Next:
The Dolphins return to John Sessions Stadium tomorrow night to take on the Owls for game two of the ASUN conference weekend series. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM.
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