JACKSONVILLE, Fla.- The Jacksonville softball team split in a doubleheader with Queens on Friday afternoon.
 
 
Freshmen Skylar Waggoner and Reese Wells started in the circle for the Dolphins (26-23, 14-9 ASUN), and both allowed just one run in a complete game effort. The duo combined for six strikeouts, and Wells run allowed was unearned while Waggoner gave up just two hits.

"We pitched the games really well, I wish we could have scratched a few more runs," said head coach Erica Ayers. "We will make our adjustments and see what happens tomorrow. There's a pretty good chance we'll see them in the tournament, too."

GAME ONE

A pitcher's duel went the Royals' way in game one as the Dolphins fell 1-0.
 
Jacksonville recorded the first hit of the game in the second inning, which was a Kari Holzrichter single to center. Besides that knock, the nation's leader in strikeouts in Autumn Courtney and the Dolphins Ace, Skylar Waggoner, were lights out through five innings. Waggoner's no-hit bid came to a halt in the sixth inning on a light tapper up the middle that found a gap, and the very next batter hit a triple off the right field wall to score the game's first run.
 
Dacie Watterson singled to centerfield to lead off the home half of the sixth inning and stole second on the next pitch to left fielder Reese Wells. A subsequent wild pitch from Courtney saw Watterson on third base with nobody out. A pair of Dolphin strikeouts and a pop-up to the Queens catcher hindered JU's chance at tying the game immediately.
 
Waggoner came out for the seventh inning and shut down the Royals lineup in order, on six pitches, to keep the game 1-0.
 
After a Queens error in the seventh, Alison Carter hit a high fly ball to deep center field that hit the top of the wall and bounced back into play, giving Carter a double and the Dolphins with runners on second and third with two outs. Kassidy Pontbriant pinch-hit for Gabi Robles, and earned a five-pitch walk, loading the bases for JU and giving the Dolphins a chance at a walkoff. The nation's leader in strikeouts in Courtney was able to navigate the adversity though, and Queens escaped with the 1-0 win in game one.
 
Waggoner (6-11) finished with her 12^th complete game of the season and surrendered just two hits and one run in the defeat. She struck out five.
 
GAME TWO

In game two, a pitcher's duel went in favor of the Dolphins as JU won game two, 3-1.
 
Queens only needed three batters to get the first run of the game on a double down the left field line that scored Mickler from second. Reese Wells, who started in the circle for the Dolphins, then started a stretch of dominance from the circle, and shutout the Royals for the next four innings.

The Dolphins evened the score in the third inning. Madison Reynolds earned a six-pitch walk, and subsequently stole second base. Kailey Harrigan, who was celebrating her birthday today, hit a laser on a 2-1 count to the left center gap, scoring Reynolds easily from second and tying the game at one. Flash forward to the top half of the fifth inning, and Queens had the bases loaded with two outs. Wells pitched a well-placed fastball that the Queens batter could just barely get contact on, and the ball fell harmlessly into Reynolds glove at short.

Jacksonville capitalized on a costly error in the home half of the fifth to take its first lead of the afternoon. After a single to right center from Reynolds, Allison Bratek reached with two outs on an error by the Royals pitcher. Carter then walked on four straight balls, setting the stage for Pontbriant, who was batting with the bases loaded. On a full-count pitch, the freshman slugger ripped a base hit up the middle, scoring Bratek and Reynolds and giving JU the 3-1 lead heading into the top of the sixth inning.

After navigating a pair of baserunners in the top of the sixth, and not scoring in the bottom of the seventh, Wells stepped back into the circle in the seventh with a chance at her second complete game in as many conference starts. After a popup to third, Queens earned a walk and brought the tying run to the plate. Next, a groundout to short left the Royals to their final out. On the sixth pitch of the ensuing at-bat, Wells painted the corner and struck out Cantoni to end the game and clinch the Dolphins win.
 
 
UP NEXT
The Dolphins wrap up their series with Queens and regular season tomorrow, May 4. First pitch is scheduled for 1 pm and livestats can be followed on JUDolphins.com.