JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – In the home series opener against Florida Gulf Coast, Jacksonville split its pair of Saturday games with the Eagles, losing 5-4 in Game One and winning 4-1 in Game Two.

Jacksonville (19-19, 6-8) almost completed the late comeback in the first of the three games, scoring a trio of runs in the bottom of the sixth after being down 5-1.

In Game Two, the 'Phins scored a pair in both the third and fifth to hold a 4-0 lead into the top of the seventh.  With the series split, the deciding game will be played on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Debbie and Fred Pruitt Softball Complex.
 
Dolphins Fall Short In Opener

Jacksonville started off hot against the Eagles, tacking on a run during the team's first cycle through the batting order. Averi Harcus cranked a single that scored Haley Fox and put the home squad up 1-0 early.

FGCU rattled off five unanswered runs before a scoring flurry by the 'Phins in the sixth.

Alayna Gaddy started things off with a sacrifice, following by a Fox single and a Madison Bratek single. Down 5-4 in the bottom of the seventh, Jacksonville put runners on first and second with two outs but flew out to end the game.

Fox had a monster day overall at the plate, going 4-4 with an RBI. Her hit total led the game. Bratek had two hits of her own, as did Kiersten Stevens.

In the circle, Jordan White suffered her first loss of the year (4-1) after going five innings and allowing seven hits and three earned runs. Ashlee Harwood cleaned up the game, going two frames with two hits. Each pitcher struck out one.
 
Jacksonville Goes The Distance To Even Series

The second game on Saturday went Jacksonville's favor the entire way, as the squad saw a complete game from pitcher Skylar Waggoner and a three-RBI day from Alison Carter.

Taking the lead in the third, Harcus hit a sac to score a runner. Carter then notched a double to score Bratek.

In the fifth, it was Carter again who hit her second double of the game, scoring a pair. Carter leads the team with nine doubles this season.

Carter's pair of hits represented half of the team's output, with Fox and McCool knocking in the others.

Waggoner earned her fifth win of the year (5-6) after allowing just one run and four hits. Waggoner fanned six in her time while also making a fast-twitch save with her glove to record an out.

Jacksonville is 5-1 when Waggoner goes seven innings or more, with her only loss coming in nine innings to UNF.

GAME NOTES

• Jacksonville pitchers faced 31 FGCU hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and eight fly balls while striking out two in Game One.
• Baylog stole two bases in Saturday's second game.
• Jacksonville went 2-for-5 (.400) with runners in scoring position in Game Two.
• Jacksonville pitchers limited FGCU to just 1-for-5 (.200) with runners in scoring position in Game Two.
• Waggoner faced 27 FGCU hitters, allowing eight ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out six.
• The Dolphins drew seven walks from FGCU pitching in Game 2.