MACON, Ga. -- Jacksonville softball picked up a pair of big wins Saturday, defeating Middle Tennessee State 10-2 and Mercer 4-1 to close out the Mercer Invitational.
The Dolphins (9-5) have now won two in a row ahead of coming back home for the JU Classic starting Friday, Feb. 28.
Dolphins Score Season-High Against MTSU
Jacksonville posted a season-best 10 runs in its second win over the year over the Blue Raiders. Starting off in the first, Averi Harcus hit a grounder that scored Madison Bratek.
In the second, Bratek hit a single that scored a run. JU blasted things open in the third behind an Alison Carter grand slam to go up 6-1.
Bratek followed with a double to center that scored a pair. Averi Harcus closed out the frame with a groundout that scored Bratek.
In the fourth, freshman Kiersten Stevens hit a single out to right that scored one.
As a team, JU finished with 11 hits, which was tied for the team's highest total all season. Bratek finished her day 3-4 with three RBIs from the leadoff position. Gabby Baylog went 2-3, as did Carter. Stevens finished a perfect 2-2 with an RBI.
Carter's four runs scored on her grand slam were part of a 10-RBI game, a season-best.
On the bases, Bratek, Stevens and Haley Fox each swiped two bags. Baylog took one. The team finished with seven stoled bases which set a new season high mark.
Getting the nod in the circle, Ashlee Harwood picked up her first win of the year (1-0). Harwood went five innings, giving up four hits and striking out a pair.
Since hosting the JU/UNF Invitational, the Dolphins are now 7-1 in their last eight games including the win over Mercer.
Jacksonville Downs Mercer
In the Dolphins' final game of tournament play, Jacksonville used three different Mercer throwing errors to cross home plate.
Fox hit a grounder to third in the top of the first that scored Bratek off an error. In the second, Bratek hit a single and advanced to second base on an error. Stevens scored on the wild throw.
In the top of the seventh, Jazz Jones reached on a fielder's choice. The ensuing errant throw advanced Jones to second and Alayna Gaddy back to the dugout after crossing home.
Jacksonville wasn't as explosive at the plate in the second game of the day, finishing with five hits. Bratek, going 1-4, collected the team's only RBI.
Skylar Waggoner earned a win on the mound (3-1) with a full game performance. The sophomore gave up five hits and fanned four. Her lone run given up was off a single in the bottom of the sixth. Waggoner didn't allow her first hit until the third inning.
COACH'S COMMENTS
On her team's overall performance Saturday: "(We were) pretty consistent all day," head coach Erica Ayers said. "Solid pitching and defense. It was nice to score a few runs after a frustrating game yesterday. I thought we created a lot of havoc today with our baserunning which helped us score some runs against a couple solid pitchers. Alison's first big fly certainly helped."
NEXT UP
The Jacksonville Dolphins return home starting Feb. 28 for the JU Classic. JU will start off tournament play against DePaul, followed by hosting Mount St. Mary's (Md.). The following day, Jacksonville will face the same teams again.
