Box Score JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville University baseball opened up the 2026 season in emphatic fashion Friday night, rolling past Rhode Island, 16-3, in a seven-inning run-rule victory at John Sessions Stadium.
Freshman
Cade Walter led the way with a monster debut, driving in six runs on three hits, and two home runs.
After
Alex Walsh retired the first three hitters of the night, Walter stepped into the box and drove one over the new right-field padding at John Sessions. It's hard to think of a more fitting way to start the season then homering on the team's first at bat.
From there, the Dolphins erupted for eight runs in the opening inning.
Jonah Shields and
Roger Vergara worked walks, and
Sam Grunberg loaded the bases after being hit by a pitch.
Derek Bermudez brought home a run on a fielder's choice before
Conner Spelman followed with an RBI single.
After
Logan Baratta walked and
Sammy Mummau was hit by a pitch to keep the inning alive, Walter came up with the bases loaded and crushed a grand slam through center field for his second home run of the inning. After one, the score sat at 8-0, with Walter bearing responsibility for 5 of those runs. For the freshman, it's tough to imagine a better way to begin your collegiate baseball career.
Jacksonville continued to build its lead throughout the night with good hitting all around. Vergara turned in a perfect debut, going 3-for-3 with two runs scored, an RBI, and two walks. Mummau added a triple and scored three times, while Spelman finished with two hits and two RBIs. Bermudez drove in three runs, and the Dolphins totaled 13 hits and drew eight walks in the season-opening win.
Seventeen different Dolphins saw the field Friday night, including the birthday boy,
Griffin Pomper.
On the mound, Walsh set the tone early as Jacksonville jumped out to a commanding advantage, and the Dolphins' pitching staff limited Rhode Island's opportunities the rest of the way to secure the run-rule decision. The freshman,
Ayden Phillips, pitched an inning and two thirds, striking out two and only giving up a single hit.
Jacksonville continues the opening weekend series with a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m. at John Sessions Stadium. The game will not be streamed, but is available to follow along through
live stats.
