JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --Senior Josh Steidl and sophomore Jonah Shields each collected three hits to help lead the Jacksonville Dolphins over the Illinois State Redbirds 12-7 on Saturday afternoon.
Senior Blake Barquin (1-1) started on the mound and picked up the win for Jacksonville (2-4). The right-hander went 5.1 innings, giving up four runs, all of them earned, on five hits, allowing two walks and striking out four. Junior Grant Brooks also made an impact on the mound for the Dolphins, throwing two solid innings while allowing one hit, with one walk and three strikeouts.
In addition to his three hits, Shields had two RBI to lead the Dolphins. Steidl added a walk and three RBI to his three-hit performance as well. Senior Blake Delamielleure also helped out for Jacksonville, putting together two hits in four trips to the plate while adding two doubles and three RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Dolphins wasted no time jumping ahead, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Jacksonville's offense got rolling when Steidl ripped an RBI single to right field, bringing Shields home to open the scoring. Later in the inning, DeLamielleure added to the lead with a sacrifice fly to right, allowing Jaden Bastian to cross the plate. With an early 2-0 advantage, Jacksonville set the tone for the game.
The Redbirds failed to push any runs across before the Dolphins offense got back to their scoring ways the next inning. The 'Phins offense exploded for five runs, highlighted by a two-run single off the bat of junior Blake Edmonds, which brought the Dolphins lead to 7-0.
Illinois State narrowed Jacksonville's lead to 7-4 before the Dolphins stretched the advantage to 10-4 in the sixth inning. Jacksonville scored three runs in the frame, two of them coming across on a two-run single off the bat of Steidl.
The Redbirds gained ground, closing the gap to 10-7 until Jacksonville added some insurance in the seventh. Shields' run-scoring single brought home one run in a two-run frame for the Dolphins, extending their lead to 12-7. From there, Jacksonville's pitching took over, keeping Illinois State off the board for the remainder of the game.
GAME NOTES
-Jacksonville's highest scoring inning was the second, when it pushed five runs across.
-Jacksonville took a 2-0 lead in the bottom half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
-Four Dolphins had multiple hits in the ballgame.
-The Dolphins out-hit the Redbirds at a 12-9 clip.
-Sophomore Jaden Bastian stole two bases in Saturday's game.
-Jacksonville went 9-for-15 (.600) with runners in scoring position.
-Dolphin pitchers faced 43 Illinois State hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and six fly balls while striking out eight.
POSTGAME WITH COACH HAYES
UP NEXT
The 'Phins aim for a series sweep as they close out the weekend with game three, set to start at 11:30 AM. Fans can stream the game live on ESPN+.
