JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (May 13, 2007) - Jacksonville scored five runs in the final three innings, breaking open a close game and completing a three game sweep of ETSU 8-3 Sunday afternoon at Cardinal Park. The Bucs' losing streak is now at a season-long seven games.
The Bucs (26-26, 11-13 A-Sun) got on the board first in the second inning when senior Michael Courtney (Knoxville, Tenn.) singled to center field, driving in freshman Danny Petro (Atlanta, Ga.). Courtney's single was the Bucs' only hit on the day with runners aboard, as the ETSU offense finished the day 1-for12 with men on base.
Jacksonville (28-24, 13-11 A-Sun) evened the game on a double steal in the fourth inning when shortstop Matt Lopez stole second with two outs in the inning and third baseman Thomas LePage broke for home on Petro's throw to second base. Second baseman Logan James followed the double steal with an infield single, and Lopez caught the ETSU defense off guard rounding third and sliding into home with the go-ahead run ahead of pitcher Craig Wojciechowski's (Maryville, Tenn.) throw to the plate. Center fielder Kevin Ferreira singled home James for a 3-1 lead, and the Dolphins lead was never threatened again.
Senior Justin Aughey (Davie, Fla.) cut the lead to 3-2 in the sixth inning with his sixth home run of the season; a one-out blast over the scoreboard in left field, but Jacksonville restored its two-run advantage with a run in the seventh before adding one more in the eighth and three in the ninth to put the game out of reach.
Wojciechowski (0-1) took the loss in his first career start, striking out five in four innings of work. Jacksonville starter Matt Gardner (6-4) scattered eight hits and struck out four in eight-plus innings of work for his sixth victory.
Aughey finished the day 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, turning in ETSU's only multiple hit effort. Four Dolphins notched multi-hits, led by James and Lopez with three apiece.
The Bucs return to action Thursday evening, opening their final series of the regular season against Atlantic Sun foe Mercer in Macon, Ga. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
