JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Dolphins have won the first softball edition of the 2026 River City Rumble. 

After a Thursday extra-innings win over UNF and a Friday five-inning defeat, the River City Rumble came down to a Saturday night fight at North Florida. Behind two home runs by Lindsey Chadwick, and another by Alison Carter, the 'Phins clinched the series via a 7-5 victory.

The series win was JU's first since 2023 against UNF. It moved JU to 18-14 overall and 3-3 in conference play.

It was Chadwick, the senior third baseman, who helped lift JU to its Saturday night win. Prior to the contest, Chadwick had three homers on the season. Down 3-2 in the sixth, Chadwick blasted a shot to left field to tie the game. In the seventh, playing a bit of hero ball for her squad, Chadwick again got ahold of a pitch for a two-run shot to deep center.  It was Chadwick's first multi-home run game of her four-year career in Duval County, tying her total home run output from last season. She now is up to five homers on the year, a career high and good for second place on the squad.

Not to be outdone, Carter too hit a homer – her third of the year – three at bats before Chadwick's second of the night. That hit was JU's go-ahead run in the seventh before Chadwick capped things off.

Jacksonville needed both runs as a UNF single in the bottom of the seventh gave the Ospreys a pair of runs, but two straight fly outs ended the night and handed JU a momentous victory.

Overall, it was an excellent evening for Jacksonville's eldest softball stars, led off by Sarah Beth Brake connecting on a single in the top of the first that later scored a run behind a throwing error. Carter added to the inning's scoring with a sac-fly to go up 2-0.

UNF answered by tying the game in the bottom of the frame, later taking a 3-2 lead in the fifth. That lead was the last of the game for the home team.

Both Chadwick and Carter led the game with three RBIs each. They both went 2-3 at the plate with a combined zero strikeouts. Carter's other hit of the game was a double, her seventh of the year which is tied for a team high.

Brake joined the party with two hits, finishing with a 2-4 outing and one RBI. As a team, Jacksonville collected 10 total hits. 

The Dolphins scored 14 runs in its two wins over UNF, adding four in its lone loss. The 18 total runs were just behind the 20 total runs scored back during the 2023 series win. In its two wins over the Ospreys, JU tallied 19 total hits. In the team's four other ASUN games they have collected a combined 20 hits.

In the circle, Jacy Harrelson earned her 10^th win of the season, moving to 10-6 overall. She went the distance, allowing six hits and four earned runs while striking out three. Harrelson now has seven straight appearances with two or more Ks.

Jacksonville next turns its attention to a three-game homestand against UWG, starting with a Saturday, March 28 doubleheader. First pitch against the Wolves is slated for 2 p.m.

After two conference series, Jacksonville sits tied for third in the ASUN's graphite division at 3-3 in ASUN play. 

COACH'S COMMENTS
On the series win: "Every series win feels good but there is obviously something a little sweeter about the Rumble win," head coach Erica Ayers said. "Kids feel good. Hoping the confidence keeps rising."

On Lindsey Chadwick: "Lindsey was big tonight. Very happy for her. She's been working really hard while no one is looking. Glad she reaped a little reward tonight."