JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- An extra-inning walk-off saw Jacksonville University (2-0) past visiting Jacksonville State, 5-4, in the second game of the River City Leadoff Tournament.
After a commanding 8-0 win over Western Carolina, JU and JSU played a much closer game that featured Jacksonville finding itself down for most of the contest.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Alayna Gaddy hammered a ball to the Gamecock's shortstop who couldn't quite handle it. The bobble gave Gaddy enough time to safely reach first, gave Averi Harcus time to reach home from third base and gave Jacksonville the win.
The win moved Jacksonville to a perfect 2-0 on the season, the school's best start since 2023.
A trio of arms got the job done for JU in the contest with freshman Jacy Harrelson earning the victory on the bump.
Harrelson (1-0) came in to relieve Reese Wells, who went three innings. Wells struck out a trio while giving up three hits and two runs.
Starter Jordan White went for one inning, tallying one K and two earned runs.
Pitching the game's final four frames, including a scoreless top of the eighth, Harrelson allowed just two hits. She struck out a single batter across 16 at bats.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Jacksonville fell behind early after some solid hitting in the first by Jacksonville State. JSU took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the first, but the Dolphins had an answer.
That answer came by way of a Harcus single that scored Madison Bratek.
In the top of the third, JSU again scored a pair of runs to push its lead to 4-1. Jacksonville again responded with one run scored of its own in the bottom of the frame, with Harcus scoring a single runner in Haley Fox.
The score stayed idle until the bottom of the sixth when the 'Phins tied things up; coincidentally the same inning where the team won its first game of the day just a few hours prior.
Raygan Dixon smashed a single down the right field line that scored a runner. Then, JU executed a successful double steal where Dixon reached second as Gaddy swiped home plate.
Tied 4-4, neither team could manage to break the stalemate in regulation.
In the eighth, Harrelson kept the JSU baserunners at bay and got her team a chance to win things in the bottom of the frame. And win they did, as Gaddy's single scored Harcus from third after the Preseason All ASUN player started the inning on second as an extra innings speed up move.
By game's end, both teams had seven hits. Bratek led the squad with a 2-4 showing after going 2-2 in the game against WCU.
Harcus led the squad with a pair of RBIs.
COACH'S COMMENTS
"The greatest thing about today was how even keel the team was all day," head coach Erica Ayers said of the comeback win. "It didn't matter if we were up big or down early, they played the game the same way. That is huge for how young we are and a testament to our leadership in the locker room."
GAME NOTES
- Jacksonville went 3-for-8 (.375) with runners in scoring position.
- Jacksonville pitchers limited Jacksonville State to just 2-for-11 (.182) with runners in scoring position.
- Jacksonville pitchers faced 38 Jacksonville State hitters in the game, allowing seven ground balls and 11 fly balls while striking out five.
- The Dolphins drew five walks from Jacksonville State pitching.
- Harcus led the Dolphins at the plate, going 1-for-3 with two RBI.
NEXT UP
JU can't rest on its wins for too long as the program will face JSU and WCU once more on Saturday. An 11:30 a.m. first pitch against the Gamecocks starts the second day of tournament play followed by a 2:00 p.m. first pitch against WCU.
The final day of play is Sunday where JU will face JSU one last time, at 10:00 a.m., in a battle for Jacksonville naming rights.
RELIVE THE DAY
