CHARLOTTE, N.C. – In the second day of the UNC Charlotte Invitational, the Jacksonville Dolphins split a pair of games, defeating Boston 4-0 in a rematch from Friday's opener but later falling to UNC Charlotte 11-2 in five innings.
The Dolphins sit at 7-7 prior to the final day of play in Charlotte, facing off against the host school at 12:30 on ESPN+ Sunday afternoon. Prior to Sunday's tilt, the 'Phins are 1-3 in tournament play in their first road tournament of the year.
JU started the day with a shutout win over BU, redeeming the day prior's walk-off loss. All of the Dolphins' runs were collected in the second frame, with a trio of freshman scoring all four.
Vic Brunette,
Jaida Thomas and
Madisyn Weathers got their teammates home, with Brunette's two-RBI single opening the game.
Of JU's seven total hits, five came from the freshman class including two from Thomas.
Jacy Harrelson picked up the shutout win, moving her season to 3-2 thus far. Harrelson went 4 1/3, allowing just three hits.
Jordan White came on in relief, pitching 2 2/3s, allowing one hit.
Against the host institution however, things looked a little different. JU tied Saturday afternoon's game up at 1-1 after the top of the second, but a four-run bottom of the frame by Charlotte and a six-run third got things just too far out of reach.
Sarah Beth Brake knocked a homer in the second inning to get her side on the board. Weathers did her damage in the third with a double to left field, scoring
Kiersten Stevens.
Jacksonville had six hits on the day, half of which came from the freshmen. Brake's homer was her first of the young season and the team's seventh overall.
Thomas and Weathers are second and third respectively on the team in hits after 14 games. Behind a tie for first with
Kate Linkletter and fellow frosh
Emma Mansfield, Thomas has 12 hits with Weathers just behind at 11 hits.
Thomas, Weathers and Brunette are all tied at six RBIs this year, good for fourth on the team.
JU concludes tournament play in the Queen City with one last game against Charlotte before returning home for yet another tournament inside the Pruitt Softball Complex.
The JU/UNF Classic begins Friday, Feb. 27 at 3:00 p.m. as the Dolphins meet DePaul for the second straight year for a pair of games.
