JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville baseball team won game two of a weekend series against Kennesaw State, 4-2. The win clinched the series for the Dolphins.
 
A two-run sixth inning for JU proved to be the difference as Jacksonville used strong performances from its pitching staff to carry them to victory.
 
The Owls struck first to take an early 1-0 lead after a pair of hits, one being a double, in the top half of the first inning. It took Jacksonville just two innings to respond themselves. Aidan Masters started the frame with a leadoff walk, and a Josh Steidl single put runners on the corners. Tyler Hinrikus then hit a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt down the first base line, scoring Masters from third and tying the game before the start of the third inning. Jacksonville took its first lead of the night in the fourth inning. Tyrell Brewer ripped a single to center to start the inning, and Steidl hit his second base knock of the day to give the Dolphins runners on the corners again. The Owls pitcher, Smith Pinson, had been watching the Dolphin baserunners all inning, and one of his pickoff attempts to third flew wide. Brewer, who had slid headfirst back to third, stood up and crossed home easily, and JU took a 2-1 lead into the fifth.
 
KSU evened things up in the sixth inning in a similar fashion to the first. This time, the Owls led off with a walk to Hassan. Hassan then stole second, and a single up the middle brought him home to see the score at 2-2. At that point, Peyton Prescott came out of the bullpen in relief and got the final out of the frame to avoid any further damage. The Dolphins wasted no time in returning their lead, this time by two, in the bottom of the sixth. A Clayton Hodges single led off the inning, and Brewer had his second hit of the night subsequently, on a hit-and-run. Chandler Howard then hit a sacrifice fly to deep left field, and Bastian singled to center field to score Brewer and see the score at 4-2 heading into the seventh. Both sides got baserunners the rest of the way, but strong performances from both bullpens late kept the remainder of the game scoreless, seeing Jacksonville pick up the Saturday win, clinching the series.
 
Evan Chrest started on the mound for the Dolphins and allowed two runs in 5.2 innings of work. The sophomore struck out six batters and surrendered five hits and two walks. He left with the game tied and received a no-decision. Prescott, who had relieved Chrest in the sixth, pitched the final 3.1 innings, of which were shutout baseball, to get the Dolphins through the remainder of the game. The freshman struck out a pair and gave up three base runners out of the pen.

COACH'S COMMENTS

 
UP NEXT
The Dolphins and Owls complete their weekend series tomorrow, May 12. First pitch is slated for 1 pm on what is the JU baseball team's senior day. The game can be streamed on ESPN+.