Box Score (PDF)

Spartanburg, S.C. – Connor Marabell went 4-for-4 with three RBIs to lead Jacksonville to an 11-7 victory over USC Upstate Sunday afternoon from Harley Park.

Marabell was one of five Dolphins with at least two hits, as Jacksonville finished with 15 hits and scored a run in a seven of nine innings.

The Dolphins struck early with two runs in the first inning on an RBI double by Marabell and a sacrifice fly from Scott Schaub. Jacksonville plated another pair of runs in the third when Schaub singled to right field to bring home Michael Babb and Dylan Dillard.

Upstate answered in the bottom of the third with two runs, using RBI singles from AJ Mackey and Justin Allen to pull within 4-2.

Jacksonville played long ball in back-to-back innings, as Angelo Amendolare delivered a solo home run in the fourth and Marabell followed suit in the fifth to help the Dolphins regain a four-run cushion.

Mackey struck for his second and third RBIs of the game in the fifth inning when he launched his first career home run with a shot over the left field wall to leaving Upstate trailing 6-4. The Dolphins, however, got both runs right back in the top of the sixth on an RBI triple from Amendolare and a sacrifice fly from Babb.

The Spartans continued to chip away at the lead in the next inning and scored a run on a wild pitch to get back within three runs. As had been the case most of the day, Jacksonville once again answered with runs in its next trip to the plate after an inning in which Upstate plated a run. The seventh inning was no different, as Jacksonville tacked on a run with an RBI single from Cameron Gibson before adding two more runs in the eighth to move ahead 11-5.

Upstate mounted a final rally in the eighth inning after loading the bases after Mackey was hit by a pitch and Allen and Stephen Dowling drew back-to-back walks. Dylan Woods drove in a run in the following at-bat with a groundball on the infield before Tyler Lesch plated Allen with Upstate's seventh run on a sac fly to right. Dolphin closer Adam Maxon retired the next two hitters with no further damage to preserve an 11-7 lead and would go on to pitch a perfect ninth to earn his eighth save of the season.

Jacksonville starting pitcher Justin Russell (6-3) pitched five innings and allowed four runs on eight hits en route to the victory.

Dylan Parker took the loss for Upstate after giving up five runs on five hits to go along with four strikeouts in four innings of work.

Upstate will play its final home game of the season Tuesday night at 6 p.m. when the Spartans welcome Charleston Southern to Harley Park.  

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