DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Jacksonville University scored five runs across the seventh and eighth innings Tuesday evening, as the visiting Dolphins upended Bethune-Cookman 8-7 in nonconference baseball action at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
 
Jacksonville (12-6) trailed 7-6 in the top of the eighth inning.
 
Hylan Hall toed the rubber for Bethune-Cookman (8-9) in the top of the eighth, in what was his first relief action of the season. However, the visiting Dolphins worked back-to-back walks from the transfer junior from Washington State before Joan Gonzalez took over with one out. Jacksonville third baseman Kris Armstrong lined a single to center field that plated Elias Flowers from second. The second run scored for the visitors when BCU centerfielder Garret Chun tried to throw out Chase Malloy at third. The ball, however, hopped the glove of Luis Tuero, allowing Malloy to score the game-winning run.
 
With JU holding a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning, Bethune-Cookman took its first lead of the night with three runs in the home-half of the frame.
 
After Jeremy Garcia's single to left moved a pair of Wildcats into scoring position, second baseman Colton Olasin registered an RBI bunt single to score Jason Hodges and tie the game, 2-2. The Cats stepped in front when Tuero picked up an RBI ground out to the pitcher, scoring Garcia on the play. The Maroon and Gold lead advanced to 4-2 when Chun doubled to left field, bringing around Olasin for the score.
 
The Dolphins cut into the lead at 4-3 in the top of the fifth on the strength of a Justin Nadeau RBI single up the middle to plate catcher Hogan McIntosh, who reached safely earlier in the inning via an error on Tuero with a throw to Robert Moya at first.
 
But it was the Wildcats scoring two runs in the bottom of the fifth to increase the lead 6-3.
 
Garcia lined a single through the right side past the diving glove of second baseman Nadeau, allowing Boris Peña to score from third. Hodges would later score on a double-steal by the Maroon and Gold, putting BCU up 6-3 at that point.
 
The final run of the evening for the Wildcats came in the home-half of the sixth with a Moya RBI single up the middle that saw Chun score from third. Chun walked and advanced on a passed ball earlier in the BCU at-bat.
 
JU scored three runs in the top of the seventh to make it 7-6, with the big blow of the frame being a two-run scoring double on a hard hit ball to second base that bounced off the glove of Olasin, allowing the Dolphins' Armstrong and Cam Ridley to score, respectively.
 
Jacksonville reliever Divine Valle earned the win – his first decision of the season, in working 2.1 innings, allowing a run on one hit, one walk and collecting three strikeouts. The save went to Chris Lotitio, his third of the season, in pitching the final 1.1 innings for the Dolphins, allowing just one hit and recording two strikeouts.
 
The loss was tagged to BCU's Hall as he fell to 0-1 on the season.
 
Wildcats starting pitcher Santiago Gomez tossed five innings without factoring into the decision, as he gave up three runs (two earned) on four hits, three walks and tallied six strikeouts. Marcos Gamboa worked 1.1 innings in relief, allowing three runs on two hits, two walks and three strikeouts.
 
Jacksonville was led offensively by Armstrong's 3-for-5 performance, adding a RBI and a run. Nadeau was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs.
 
For BCU, it was Peña finishing 3-for-4 at the dish with a pair of runs scored. Chun had a multi-hit day with a 2-for-3 showing at the plate, as well as a RBI and a run. And it was Garcia posting a 2-for-4 evening with a RBI and a run scored as well.
 
Bethune-Cookman returns to action Friday, March 17, when the Wildcats open Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play at home versus Alabama State. The three-game series begins at 7 p.m., at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
 
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