Box Score GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville Baseball walked into Gainesville Tuesday night and upset the No. 21 team in the nation, 4-3, behind a three-run eighth inning.

For the second straight week, Jacksonville won its midweek matchup by a score of 4-3, with freshman Kyle Hopper securing the win in both.

The victory marks Jacksonville's first ranked win since March 19, 2024, when the Dolphins defeated No. 6 Florida, 7-6.

Roger Vergara provided the big swing of the night in the stunner, delivering a two-out base hit that brought two runners home, including the tying run.

Kyle Powers made the first start of his career and allowed just two hits across two scoreless innings. Kyle Hopper and Dominic Pieto closed the door with three scoreless frames, with Pieto earning his second save of the season.

Former Gator Sammy Mummau led the way offensively for the Dolphins, recording two hits and an RBI, marking back-to-back multi-hit games for the redshirt sophomore.

Blake Edmonds and Cade Walter were each hit by a pitch twice, as nine Dolphins reached base via hit-by-pitch or walk.

How It Happened

The Dolphins opened the game with back-to-back leadoff walks from Walter and Vergara. After a Derek Bermudez sacrifice fly, runners stood on the corners with one out. Conner Spelman popped out in foul territory, and Logan Baratta hit a hard ground ball down the left field line that the third baseman made a strong play on.

Jacksonville again put pressure on in the second inning, starting with a leadoff hit-by-pitch as Sam Grunberg was struck in the helmet. Manuel Souffrain entered for Grunberg, and Blake Edmonds moved him to second with a single through the right side. After Walter was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Vergara grounded out to first, stranding another opportunity.

In the third, Bermudez was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Spelman struck out, and Baratta lined out to second for two quick outs. Bermudez advanced to third on a wild pitch and passed ball, but Souffrain lined out to left to end the threat. The Dolphins left six runners on base through the first three innings.

Kyle Powers was relieved by Ben Baker-Livingston to begin the bottom of the third. In his first career start, Powers allowed just two hits and no runs across two innings.
Florida broke through in the third, using a leadoff triple and a walk to set up a sacrifice fly and a groundout, bringing in two runs.

In the fourth, Edmonds walked and Mummau singled to left-center to put runners on the corners with one out. Walter struck out, and Vergara was retired on a fielder's choice, leaving two more stranded.

Florida added another in the bottom half on a solo home run from Cole Stanford.

Jacksonville got on the board in the sixth as Mummau singled down the left field line, scoring Delgado from second. The RBI marked his eighth over the last three games and his second hit of the night.
 

Walter followed with a single to right and advanced to second on a wild pitch, but Vergara struck out, leaving two in scoring position; Jacksonville's tenth stranded runner through six innings.

Grant Brooks entered in the sixth and, after recording a strikeout, Spelman threw out a runner at second to end the threat.
 

Kyle Hopper took over in the seventh and emphatically retired the side in order.

Three-Run Eighth

After two quick outs in the eighth, the Dolphins loaded the bases with two hit-by-pitches and a Mummau walk. On a 1-2 pitch to Vergara, the ball hit the backstop, and Edmonds came home, but the play was ruled dead as Vergara was initially ruled hit by the pitch. After review, the call was overturned, and Edmonds returned to third.

Vergara responded immediately. On the next pitch, he lined a single into right field, scoring two and tying the game at three.
 

Jacksonville took the lead moments later on a passed ball that scored Walter from third.

Hopper delivered another strong inning in the eighth, striking out two and showcasing command of his breaking ball.
 

In the ninth, after walking the first hitter, Pieto closed the door by forcing a lineout and two ground outs, to secure the 4-3 victory. 

Jacksonville improves to 3-3 in its last six meetings with Florida, earning its 18th all-time win in Gainesville and its first Power Four victory since March 25, 2025, when the Dolphins defeated UCF.

Dolphin Baseball resumes Thursday night at 7:00 pm, at John Sessions Stadium, in game one of three versus the Stetson Hatters.