TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Jacksonville Baseball fell short in an extra-innings battle with Florida State on Tuesday night, dropping the game in the 11th, 7-6.
After Jacksonville led the whole game, Florida State tied things up in the ninth to send the game into extras. After a scoreless 10th frame by both teams, the 'Noles plated a run in the 11th to steal the game late.
Dylan Faulkner started on the mound for Jacksonville and gave the 'Phins a solid outing. The Orange Park native pitched four innings, giving up three runs off four hits with six strikeouts and no walks. He was given a no-decision.
In the top of the second, Blake Edmonds gave the 'Phins an early lead after he drove a single to left field that scored Tyler Hinrikus. In the very next at-bat, Nick DeLisi drove the ball down the right-field line to score Edmonds from first. DeLisi was credited with an RBI double but advanced to third on the throw home. FSU responded after a 4-3 groundout brought in a run to make 2-1 Dolphins. Faulkner worked out of the inning with a punchout and a foul out to maintain the Jacksonville lead.
The Dolphin's offense came up with a two-out rally in the third, starting with Tyrell Brewer keeping the inning alive after a base hit back up the middle. Brewer swiped second with a stolen base to move him into scoring position. Hinrikus remained patient in his at-bat and forced a 3-2 count, which he forced a base-on-balls. Josh Steidl came up to bat next and worked a 3-1 hitters count and also walked to load the bases for Jacksonville. Freshman Peyton Prescott came up to bat and dropped a single into right field which scored Brewer and Hinrikus to give Jacksonville the 4-1 lead after the top of the third.
FSU responded quickly in the home half of the third with a two-run shot to cut the JU lead back to one, 4-3.
The game remained deadlocked at 4-3 with scoreless innings in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.
Will Gale came up to bat in the seventh and delivered in his lead-off spot, hitting a single and swiping second to put a Dolphin in scoring position. Another young Dolphin stepped up to the occasion; Jaden Bastian lined a shot straight back up the middle allowing the speedy Gale to come in to score to put the 'Phins up 5-3. Bastian used his speed as well to steal second to put another runner in scoring position. Former Seminole Brewer drove Bastian with a single up the middle as well to make it 6-3 Jacksonville heading into the seven-inning stretch.
The Noles's comeback bid started in the eighth inning after they cut the Jacksonville lead to 6-4 with an RBI single. Issac Williams stranded the bases loaded after getting a Noles batter to foul out to end the inning.
The Dolphins got a pair of runners on in the ninth after Jackson Westmoreland singled and Jaden Bastian forced a walk but Jacksonville couldn't add an insurance run.
FSU worked themselves to a bases loaded 1 out situation down two and cut the deficit to one after a passed ball to make it 6-5. A sacrifice fly tied the ball game at 6-6. Williams ended the inning with a 4-3 groundout to send the game into extra innings.
Jacksonville put two runners on in the top of the 10th after Chandler Howard was hit-by-pitch and Blake Edmonds singled, but couldn't plate a run, and the game headed into the home half with the Noles having a chance to win. Scout Updike came out of the bullpen to relieve Williams and held FSU scoreless to give Jacksonville another chance to take the lead.
Once again JU put a pair of runners on after Jackson Westmoreland singled and Brewer forced a walk on a 3-2 count. The 'Phins were close to scoring after Hinrikus sent a rocket through the left side but the FSU shortstop made a great play to cut off the hit and make the 6-3 putout to send the game into the 11th. The 'Noles walked it off in the 11th after a hard grounder narrowly missed the glove of Hinrikus to score the winning run. Scout Updike was given the loss, he is now 1-1 on the season.
Three Strikes
- Will Gale, Tyrell Brewer, Blake Edmonds and Jackson Westmoreland all had multi-hit games.
- Nick DeLisi, Jaden Bastian, Blake Edmonds, Tyrell Brewer, and Peyton Prescott (2) all recorded an RBI.
- Will Gale (2), Jaden Bastian, and Tyrell Brewer all had stolen bases on the day.
Up Next:
Jacksonville returns home to John Sessions Stadium tomorrow night to take on Georgia Southern. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 PM.
