DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Jacksonville University broke open a tight contest with a four-run ninth inning, powering past Bethune-Cookman 6-3 in non-conference baseball action Tuesday night at Jackie Robinson Park.
 
Jacksonville (9-7) was paced by Blake Delamielleure's three-run homer in the decisive ninth inning, part of his 2-for-4 night that included three RBIs and a double. The visiting Dolphins collected 12 hits while holding the Wildcats to just five in the mid-week matchup.
 
Anthony Cordero (2-0) earned the win in relief for Jacksonville despite allowing a run in the ninth, while Nick Anello recorded the final two outs for his fourth save of the season. Yoansell Diaz (0-1) took the loss for Bethune-Cookman after surrendering four runs on six hits in the ninth – his first action of the year after coming back from an offseason injury.
 
It would be JU to strike first in the opening frame.
 
Second baseman Jonah Shields singled and eventually scored on an error for an unearned run against Bethune-Cookman starter Logan Wirt, also seeing his first action of the year for the Wildcats.
 
The score remained 1-0 until the sixth inning when Sammy Mummau launched a solo home run to left field, extending the Dolphins' lead to 2-0.
 
Bethune-Cookman (7-10) answered immediately in the bottom half of the frame when let fielder Christopher Watson, a native of Ridgeland, Mississippi, singled and Darryl Lee followed at the top of the order with an RBI triple – his second of the season, down the right field line. An Andrey Martinez groundout brought Lee home, knotting the contest at 2-2.
 
The game stayed deadlocked until Jacksonville's explosive ninth.
 
With one out, Dolphins centerfielder Jaden Bastian singled, followed by Shields' single right back up the middle. Josh Steidl drove in Bastian with a single to right field before Delamielleure delivered the three-run homer to left center that pushed the lead to 6-2.
 
The Cats mounted a rally in the bottom of the ninth when designated hitter Jose Fernandez walked, and later advanced on a wild pitch, before then scoring on Sergio Rivera's infield single. However, Anello entered to record the final two outs and secure the victory for the visitors.
 
Jacksonville used seven pitchers on the night, with starter Alex Walsh tossing two scoreless innings while striking out three. The Wildcats employed five hurlers, with Robert Lastra providing the most effective outing (3.1 innings, one hit, no runs).
 
Shields led all players with three hits in five trips to the plate while scoring twice for JU.
 
Lee had the lone extra-base hit for B-CU with his RBI triple.
 
Bethune-Cookman begins Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play Friday, March 14, when playing host to Alcorn State in the first of a three-game set at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m.
 
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