JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Dolphins fell in a hard-fought battle with the fourth-ranked Florida Gators Wednesday, 5-2.

The Dolphins (13-14, 0-3) played the Gators far closer than the team's 10-1 meeting earlier in the season, and put Florida in one of its closest games of its non-conference schedule thus far.

Jordan White gave JU a stellar outing in relief and gave Jacksonville a chance for four innings to down the visiting Gators.

The sophomore White pitched four, giving up just one hit and one earned run after facing 14 batters. Ashlee Harwood (1-2) got the start and went an inning, giving up two runs. Freshman Hailey Strunk came on in the second inning and pitched a frame. Strunk's lone hit given up was a solo homer that put Florida ahead 3-1.

Florida scored early in the top of the first after an error in the field and later tacked on another to go up 2-0 before the 'Phins came up to bat.

That two-run lead was short lived as Gabby Baylog bombed a ball to center that ended up as a triple and scored Haley Fox from first.

After the Florida homer in the second, Jacksonville answered once more with a fielding error scoring Jazz Jones. As Jacksonville came back up to pitch in the top of the third, JU had Florida at a 3-2 game.

As the game progressed, both teams were unable to find home plate until the sixth when a Florida homer pushed the game to 4-2. Later in the seventh, a Gator grounder pushed the game to its final.

Wednesday's game was the closest game played between the squads since 2021, when Florida won 5-1. It was the closest scoring differential in games between the programs since the first meeting of the schools during the '21 season a 1-0 Florida victory. 

By game's end, Jacksonville actually outhit the Gators 5-4. Florida pitchers walked JU batters seven times compared to just six walks by the Dolphin staff. The tale of the tape came from JU leaving 10 runners stranded in a game that could have gone either way for the full seven innings.

White pitched her third most innings all season on Wednesday and tied for her lowest hits allowed in games she has pitched four or more innings in with one. Her first inning in the circle featured a three up, three down frame and she only faced four batters in her second inning of work.

Raygan Dixon, who came on late for Kiersten Stevens at second tallied a hit, as did Madison Bratek, Fox, Baylog and Lindsey Chadwick.

Despite the close loss to one of the nation's best, Jacksonville will have plenty to build on its short break before hosting Queens. The Royals come to town on Saturday, March 22 for a pair of games before the series finale on Sunday, March 23.

First pitch between the two ASUN foes—who know each other quite well as Queens put Jacksonville out in the first round of the ASUN Tournament a season ago—is set for 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

COACH'S COMMENTS
On the team's fight: "This team cares tremendously and they put a lot of pressure on themselves," head coach Erica Ayers said. "We are trying to play more care free. That's when we did our best. They did that tonight for the most part. When we did tense up, we were able to loosen up again quickly."

On White's night: "Really excited for Jordan," Ayers said. "She has the 'stuff' to be very good. This should give her a lot of confidence moving forward."
 

GAME NOTES

• Jacksonville pitchers limited Florida to just 1-for-8 (.125) with runners in scoring position.
• Jacksonville pitchers faced 34 Florida hitters in the game, allowing four ground balls and 14 fly balls while striking out three.
• Baylog led the Dolphins at the plate, going 1-for-4 with a triple and an RBI.