FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Dolphins flipped the script late, scoring six runs over the final three innings to rally past FGCU, 6-4, in Friday night's series opener.
Friday's game one featured a matchup between aces;
Alex Walsh, who leads the ASUN in wins, and Evan Dempsey, the conference's strikeout leader.
How It Happened
The Eagles jumped out quickly with three base hits in four at-bats, loading the bases. Two came around to score after a hit by pitch and a wild pitch, with the third scoring on a sacrifice fly to right field. After one frame, FGCU led 3-0.
Sammy Mummau continued his recent surge with a base hit through the right side against a pull-side shift, followed by
Cade Walter reaching via hit-by-pitch.
Roger Vergara later stepped in with a chance to respond, but the Dolphins were unable to cash in early.
Abdriel Delgado provided a spark defensively in the fifth, throwing out a runner at the plate to keep the deficit at three and give Jacksonville some needed life.
That momentum finally translated in the seventh.
Delgado opened the inning with a single, followed by a walk from
Blake Edmonds. Mummau worked a free pass to load the bases, and with one out, Vergara singled down the left field line to plate the Dolphins' first run.
Derek Bermudez followed with a single to right, bringing home another and trimming the deficit to 3-2 heading into the stretch.
Jacksonville broke through in the eighth.
Connor Spelman led off with a single and
Griffin Pomper, running for him, moved into scoring position. Delgado followed with another base hit before Edmonds reached on an error to load the bases. Mummau tied the game with a sacrifice fly, and after another walk reloaded the bases, Bermudez delivered the biggest swing of the night -- a two-run single to left center that gave the Dolphins their first lead at 5-3.
The Dolphins added insurance in the ninth, as Pomper doubled and later scored on an RBI single from Edmonds to push the lead to 6-3.
On the mound, Jacksonville's bullpen took over after Walsh's start.
Grant Brooks bridged the gap before
Kyle Hopper (W, 3-0) delivered two scoreless innings to keep the game within reach. The win marks the freshman's third win in three weeks.
Austin Williamson worked a clean eighth, and
Dominic Pieto shut the door in the ninth to earn his fourth save of the season.
FGCU scratched across a run in the ninth, but Pieto limited the damage and secured the win.
The Dolphins handed the Eagles their first loss at home in conference play and look to clinch the series tomorrow at 5:00 pm.
Notables
Derek Bermudez: 3-for-4, 3 RBI, game-winning two-run single
Abdriel Delgado: 2-for-5, 2 runs, ignited both scoring rallies
Blake Edmonds: reached base three times, 2 runs, RBI
Griffin Pomper: key baserunning spark, scored twice, added a double
Kyle Hopper: 2.0 IP, 0 ER, earned the win
Dominic Pieto: 1.0 IP, 2 K, save
