FORT MYERS, Fla. --- The Jacksonville Dolphins dropped a Saturday doubleheader to the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles to open ASUN play. JU (13-12, 0-2 ASUN) dropped the opening game in a close 3-2 contest. In the second leg, the Dolphins fell 4-1.

In the first game, sophomore pitcher Skylar Waggoner got the start in the circle. She pitched all six innings for Jacksonville. The Eagles took a 2-0 lead in the first, but JU answered in the second. The Dolphins loaded the bases in the second, and freshman Alayna Gaddy drew a walk to drive in a run for JU.  In the next frame, senior Alison Carter smacked a single to score graduate student Gabby Baylog and tie the game at two. 

FGCU scored in the bottom of the fourth, and neither team scored again as the hosts took game one. Senior Haley Fox led JU with a pair of hits in the game.

Freshman Jacy Harrelson manned the circle for Jacksonville in the second game of the day, pitching 4 and a third innings of action. The Dolphins got on the board first in game two. Fox singled in her first at-bat of the game and promptly stole second base. After a pass ball moved her to first, Fox scored on a ground out from Baylog for the early lead.

Harrelson and the JU defense kept FGCU at bay, tossing four scoreless frames to keep a 1-0 lead into the fifth inning. The Eagles scored four in the fifth to take a 4-1 lead, and the hosts held on to win the second game of the day.

Sophomore Reese Wells relieved Harrelson and tossed 1.2 innings of scoreless ball. Four Dolphins finished with a hit in the loss.

Jacksonville will close the series Sunday afternoon at 1 PM. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.