Friday, May 27, 2011

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Second-seeded Jacksonville fended off elimination, rattling off 12 hits in a 5-3 victory over No. 1 seed Stetson on third day of the 2011 Atlantic Sun Baseball Championship on Friday at Lipscomb’s Dugan Field.

The Dolphins have a quick turnaround, as they play fourth-seeded and defending tournament champions Mercer in another elimination game later Friday night. The winner will reach the championship game against No. 6 seed Belmont at 1 p.m. Saturday. Jacksonville (36-21) last won the tournament title in 2009.

Stetson (41-18), the regular-season champ, heads home after a 1-2 tournament record. Since repeating as tournament champs in 2006, the Hatters are 4-9 in their last 13 tournament games.

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Read the Atlantic Sun Insider Column: Dolphins Keep Championship Hopes Alive

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Seven Jacksonville batters collected hits, with Chris Moye leading the way with three singles. The Dolphins came through with timely hits, scoring four of their runs with two outs.

Up 1-0 in the second, Jonathan Murphy singled through the right side, knocking in two runs with two outs. In the fourth, Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year Adam Brett Walker delivered a two-out RBI single through the right side. That ended the day for Stetson starting pitcher Tucker Donahue, who threw 111 pitches in 3.2 innings. Donahue (2-3) allowed four runs – three earned – on seven hits, walked six and struck out four.

Stetson sliced the lead in half in the fifth. With runners on second and third, Ben Carhart single to left field to drive in both runs. The junior third baseman was responsible for all three of the Hatter’s RBIs.

With Jacksonville leading 5-2 in the bottom of the seventh, Stetson loaded the bases with no outs. But Dolphins closer Chris Anderson limited the damage. He struck out Robert Crews, gave up a run-scoring sacrifice fly to Carhart and fanned Nick Rickles to end the inning.

Anderson didn’t allow a hit and walked just two in three innings of work as he picked up his 11th save. Jimmy Appleby improved to 2-0 as he pitched 1.2 innings of relief, giving up one run on one hit. Starting pitcher, Steve Eagerton scattered seven hits for two earned runs as he just missed going the minimum fives to pick up his ninth win. He has yet to lose a decision this season.

The Hatters are expected to head to their 17th regional in school history – and first since 2007 – when the NCAA Tournament field is announced on Monday. They have an impressive RPI of 19 and were ranked nationally for much of the season.