05/16/2026

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Conner Spelman laced a walk-off, bases-loaded RBI single into left-center field in the bottom of the ninth inning Saturday afternoon, lifting Jacksonville University baseball team (29-24, 16-14 ASUN) to a 2-1 victory over Florida Gulf Coast University (34-20, 17-12 ASUN) at John Sessions Stadium. With the win, the Dolphins claimed the final Atlantic Sun Conference regular-season series, two games to one.

The low-scoring affair quickly developed into a classic pitchers’ duel after early fireworks from both sides. Jacksonville struck first in the bottom of the first inning when Derek Bermudez launched a solo home run to give the Dolphins a quick 1-0 advantage.

The Eagles answered back to draw even in the top of the third. With one out, Nathan Gagnon sparked the offense by drawing a walk. Jon Embury then stepped to the plate and delivered a sharp RBI double down the left-field line, bringing home Gagnon to knot the score at 1-1. The run-scoring double marked a major individual milestone for Embury, representing his 60th RBI of the season.

From there, both pitching staffs completely locked down the opposing lineups. The Eagles utilized six pitchers on the afternoon, with the staff combining for five strikeouts. Meanwhile, the Dolphins countered by sending five pitchers to the mound, who collectively racked up 11 strikeouts to stifle the FGCU bats.

The Eagles navigated the late innings, including a two-out single in the sixth and a leadoff walk in the eighth, to preserve the tie. Wilfred Gonzalez tried to jump-start a late FGCU threat with a two-out single in the top of the eighth, but the Eagles were unsuccessful. The subsequent FGCU batter reached on a fielder’s choice to second base, allowing Jacksonville to tag Gonzalez out at second for the final out of the frame.

FGCU went down in order in the top of the ninth, setting the stage for the Dolphins’ final rally. After loading the bases in the home half, Spelman drove a single to left-center field scoring Roger Vergara to secure the walk-off victory for Jacksonville.

Dominic Pieto (3-0) earned the win for the Dolphins, allowing no hits while striking out one in one inning of relief. Sebastian Lippman (1-2) was charged with the loss, surrendering the game-winning run in two-thirds of an inning of relief.

Despite the setback, the regular-season finale does not alter the conference landscape for the Eagles, who will now pivot to postseason play. FGCU heads to DeLand, Florida, for the ASUN Baseball Championship, where they have secured a top-four seed and a first-round bye. The Eagles are scheduled to open tournament action on Wednesday, May 20.