CARROLLTON, Ga. – To begin ASUN play Saturday, the Jacksonville Dolphins fell in a pair of games to West Georgia, 4-3 in the first and 4-1 in the second.
The pair of losses pushed JU to 15-13 overall and 0-2 in conference after one day. The Dolphins square off again against the Wolves Sunday morning with first pitch slated for 1 p.m. in the final game of the series.
Jacksonville got ahead early in the opener behind a
Vic Brunette double to left field, leading 1-0 in the top of the second. UWG answered in the bottom of the frame.
In the top of the third, graduate
Sarah Beth Brake knocked a homer to right to score a pair, giving JU a 3-2 lead. That run was the last of the game for the Dolphins, with West Georgia scoring one in the third and reaching home via an error in the fifth.
With her latest blast Brake continues to lead the green and gold at seven homers this season. Her hit was one of five total for the 'Phins in the ASUN opener, with the freshman Brunette leading the team with a 2-2 showing at the plate. Both of Brunette's hits were doubles.
Fellow graduate
Alison Carter also hit a double for her lone hit of the afternoon. Following the conclusion of the ASUN opener, JU had 34 doubles as a team. Carter is tied with Brake for the team lead in the category. Brunette's doubles were her first of the season.
Jacy Harrelson earned the starting nod and went 4 1/3 innings. She fanned a pair and allowed just three hits with two earned runs.
Reese Wells closed the game, allowing only one hit.
Errors plagued the Dolphins in the opener, posting three during the course of the game. It was the seventh such game of the season with multiple errors.
In the second game, JU again tallied five hits but only rattled off one run. The lone score came in the top of the first, this time on an RBI from Carter. It was a freshman who led the team again in hits however as
Emma Mansfield went 2-3 at the plate. It was her seventh multi-hit game of the season. In the circle and hitting, Wells went 1-2 with a walk.
Wells allowed six hits and struck out a trio during a full game of work to kick off conference play.
After Sunday's tilt in Carrollton, JU will return to Duval County for a three-game stand against UNF starting Thursday, March 19 at 7 p.m.
