JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville University baseball team welcomes Long Island down south this weekend for its second consecutive home series to open the season.
The Dolphins currently have a 4-1 record after a midweek loss to #16 Florida State. Despite the setback, this marks their best start to a season since 2022, when the team opened with five straight wins.
This series marks the first-ever meeting between the two programs. The Sharks made the jump to Division One earlier this decade, officially joining Division One during the 2019-2020 season. They are led by Head Coach Dan Pirillo, who is in his tenth season at the helm of the Long Island program.
Series Schedule vs Long Island
Game 1 - Friday, Feb. 20th
Time: 6:00 PM
Game 2 and 3 (DH) - Saturday, Feb. 21st
Time: 1:00 PM, 4:30 PM
Game 4 - Sunday, Feb. 22nd
Time: 1:00 PM
Shark's Stats
Long Island opened its 2026 campaign on the road in San Diego against SDSU, where the Sharks went 0-3. Despite two one-run losses, they averaged seven runs per game.
Ryan Rivera, the Sharks' shortstop, was named NEC Player of the Week. He leads the team in batting average (.417) and RBIs (5), and started his season with a home run in the first inning on opening day. Nick Matson also received opening week recognition, earning NEC Prime Performer honors for week one.
After capturing the Northeastern Conference regular season title last year, LIU finished second in the conference championship. The Sharks were projected to finish in the same spot this year, coming in second in the preseason poll behind last year's champion, Central Connecticut. Notably, LIU received five of twelve first-place votes, just one shy of the top spot.
Dolphins At The Dish
Jacksonville has scored 49 runs in its first five games this season, currently ranking 14th nationally.
Derek Bermudez, a transfer from Florida International, is leading the way offensively. He currently tops the nation in RBIs (16) and leads the team in several categories, including batting average (.579), OPS (1.724), Hits (11), and slugging (1.105). Bermudez has homered three times in the last two games, twice in the series finale against Rhode Island and once with a three-run shot against Florida State.
The only other Dolphin to homer so far is freshman Cade Walter, who went deep in each of his first two collegiate at-bats—both coming in the first inning on opening day.
Roger Vergara is close behind Bermudez with a .563 batting average, the third highest in the ASUN. His nine hits rank second in the conference, as does his .682 on-base percentage.
Pitching 'Phins
Dominic Pieto has delivered the Dolphins' standout pitching performance so far. The Tulane transfer entered a tense situation with the bases loaded, struck out the batter to end the inning, and then proceeded to retire 11 of the next 16 batters, tallying seven additional strikeouts. As the team's most effective reliever, Pieto earned the win in game two against the Rams.
Jacksonville's Friday night starter, Alex Walsh, secured the win by pitching 4.1 innings, striking out four, and allowing just four hits and one earned run in his season debut. Productive season debut from the Dolphins ace.
Payton Waters and Brendan Holland made the other two starts against Rhode Island. Waters struck out four, tying for second most on the team, while Holland tossed four innings, fanned three, and held opposing hitters to a .091 average.
