RICHMOND, Ky.- Jacksonville baseball dropped the rubber match of their three-game series against Eastern Kentucky on Saturday afternoon, losing 12-4 in the regular season finale.

Despite a career single game-high five RBIs from Clayton Hodges, the Dolphins couldn't recover after the Colonels had two three-run innings and a four-run inning to extend the game out of reach.

The Colonels struck first in the home half of the second after a run came in to score off a Dolphins overthrow to first. Jacksonville responded with a run of their own the following half-inning when Tyrell Brewer drove in Jackson Westmoreland with an RBI single to tie things up at one. After a pair of doubles in the bottom of the third from EKU, the Colonels moved back in front 4-1. 

After a scoreless fourth inning from both teams, Peyton Prescott beat out a potential double-play ball with the bases loaded, scoring Jaden Bastian to cut the deficit to two. 

EKU separated themselves from the game with a three-run fifth inning and a run sixth inning. The Dolphins added two runs in the seventh to make it 11-4 after Hodges drove in Steidl and Bastian with a two-RBI base knock. The Colonels responded with a run in the home half of the seventh to make it 12-4 but Jacksonville was determined to keep competing and continue attacking at the plate. Chandler Howard forced a 3-2 walk with the bases load to plate a run for the 'Phin's. Clayton Hodges came up to bat next and cleared the bases after lining a double down the left field line, plating three runs to make it a four-run game in the eighth, now 12-8.

Once again, the Colonels responded with a run in the eighth to make it 13-8 and the Dolphins rally fell off after a scoreless ninth and the game concluded. Blake Barquin (2-5) was given the loss.

Three Strikes

1. Josh Steidl, Clayton Hodges, and Tyler Hinrikus all had multi-hit games
2. Josh Steidl had this third three-walk game of the season.
3. Will Gale stole his 23rd base of the season, which is now first in the ASUN. 

Up Next:

Jacksonville qualified and will be competing for the ASUN Championship this upcoming week in DeLand, where Stetson is hosting the conference postseason games. The official seeding and matchups will be announced soon, please stay tuned to our website and social media channels for more information.