Jacksonville Seals A-Sun Regular Season Title; Mercer Claims Two Seed
Date Posted: 5/18/2006
Jacksonville scored five runs in the third inning and sophomore LHP Matt Dobbins tallied his second straight complete game to lead the JU baseball team to an 8-1 win over Lipscomb to clinch the 2006 Atlantic Sun Conference regular-season title, Thursday evening at Dugan Field.
JU won its first A-Sun regular-season crown since joining the conference during the 1999 season. The last regular-season conference title captured by the Dolphins was during the 1995 season as a member of the Sun Belt Conference. The Dolphins also earned the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament for the time in program history, surpassing the highest seed (No. 2) in 1999. Dobbins (12-0) notched his fourth consecutive win after allowing only one run on one hit with two walks and three strikeouts in nine innings.
"We've been working all year long for this and to see it all come together today is a special feeling," said JU head coach Terry Alexander. "Our next order of business is to finish this series strong and build some momentum for the conference tournament."
In other action, Mercer closer Andrew Urena notched his 15th save of the season as the Bears edged Belmont 4-3 to claim the No. 2 seed at the A-Sun Championship. The senior hurler ties Stetson’s Mike Lyons for second on the A-Sun Single Season Saves list. He needs just one more to match Jamie Emiliano’s conference record of 16 saves set for FIU in 1995. Stetson clinched their seventh straight appearance at the A-Sun Championship with their 5-0 shutout of Gardner-Webb in the nightcap of a double header. The Bulldogs won game one 4-3 to keep their postseason hopes alive. ETSU grabbed a berth in the championship despite falling 7-2 at Florida Atlantic by taking advantage of losses by Lipscomb and GWU. Kennesaw State and Campbell had their series opener in Buies Creek suspended due to rain.
