JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- In the second day of the Jacksonville Spring Break Classic, JU split a pair of games with Army and Mercer.
The Dolphins defeated Army 8-4 to start the day but fell to Mercer in the second game between the two programs this season, 7-4. The 1-1 day moved Jacksonville to 12-10 ahead of Saturday's final nonconference matchup, a rematch against Army at 2 p.m.
Dolphins Down Black Knights
Jacksonville snapped a four-game losing streak with its morning win over Army. The team's eight runs were its most scored since its 8-0 win over Mount St. Mary's and more than the total number of runs scored during the team's losing skid.
The bats got started early for Jacksonville as Madison Bratek started off the bottom of the first with a double. Haley Fox followed with a single before Alison Carter scored Bratek with a groundout.
In the top of the fourth, Amry scored a pair of runs to take a brief 2-1 lead.
The bottom of the frame featured a three-run outburst by JU, which too was spurred on by Carter.
Carter crushed a homer to right field to tie the game before Lindsey Chadwick knocked a homer of her own to left that scored a pair. Carter now leads the team with three homers, followed by Chadwick with a pair.
Army had an answer for the scoring outburst in the top of sixth, scoring two runs and tying the game at 4-4.
As the team had done all game, Jacksonville had answers at the plate. Bratek hit a single that scored two followed by the same from Gabby Baylog.
Ashlee Harwood closed out the game in the circle, finishing off a 1 2/3 innings outing. Army hit into a double play and two batters later closed the game on a fly out.
Jacy Harrelson did most of the damage for the Dolphins' pitching staff, getting the start and going 5 1/3 innings. Harrelson fanned a career-high five batters. Harwood got the win, moving her to 2-0 on the year.
By game's end, JU outhit Army 9-7. Fox led the team with three hits. Bratek, Baylog, Carter and Chadwick each had a duo of RBIs.
Jacksonville Falls In Rematch With Mercer
In a bit of a reverse of the day's first game, JU could not answer every scoring effort made by Mercer.
After a one-run top of the first by the Bears, Jacksonville scored a run off an Averi Harcus single.
Mercer again put up a run in the top of the third which JU answered by scoring two runs off Jazz Jones reaching home via throwing error and a Baylog sac-bunt.
However down the stretch, Mercer scored a run in the fourth and a pair of runs in both the fifth and sixth which JU only answered with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Carter capped off her solid day with the team's final RBI: a single down the right field line. That hit represented one of the team's six total.
Baylog finished with the team's most hits, ending her day with a 2-3 showing and a single RBI.
GAME NOTES
- Jacksonville went 5-for-12 (.417) with runners in scoring position.
- Jacksonville pitchers faced 29 Army hitters in the game, allowing four ground balls and nine fly balls while striking out seven.
- The Dolphins drew six walks from Army pitching.
- Jacksonville pitchers limited Mercer to just 3-for-15 (.200) with runners in scoring position.
- Jacksonville pitchers faced 39 Mercer hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and nine fly balls while striking out two.
