![\"University](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/UMASS.png\")
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Next Game:<\/p>\n
University of Massachusetts<\/p>\n
2\/7\/2026 | 3:30 PM<\/p>\n
\n Feb. 07 (Sat) \/ 3:30 PM
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\n \u00a0University of Massachusetts
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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2013\u00a0The Jacksonville University softball team kicked off its 2026 season with the River City Leadoff on Friday, splitting a pair of games between Colgate and North Dakota State.<\/p>\n
The Dolphins defeated Colgate in their opener 6-2 before falling 5-2 in the first ever meeting with the Bisons. Jacksonville takes its 1-1 record into Saturday where they will conclude The Leadoff with a pair of games against UMass, starting at 3:30 p.m. EST.<\/p>\n
6-2 win over Colgate
The Dolphins started their season in emphatic fashion, picking up a 6-2 win over Colgate. It was the second straight year JU opened the season up with a win, following last year’s 8-0 win over Western Carolina.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The player of the game for Jacksonville was junior right hander Jordan White<\/a>, who earned the opening day start and fanned 10 batters to begin her 2026 campaign. Her 10 Ks shattered her previous career-high of four set last season against West Georgia.<\/p>\n White sent the opening three batters packing before striking out the next two in the second inning. It wasn’t until the fifth when Colgate even had a baserunner, at that time already finding itself down 5-0 after some big hits from the Dolphin offense.<\/p>\n The big hits came first by way of graduate transfer Sarah Beth Brake<\/a> who turned a double into two-RBIs in the third inning. Returner Reece Wells reached on an error which scored a runner, followed by an RBI-single from returner Tatum McCool<\/a> and an RBI-single for freshman Vic Brunette<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n In the sixth, fellow freshman Emma Mansfield<\/a> capped off the day with a sac-fly to right to end the day’s scoring and hand Jacksonville the win.<\/p>\n Coach Erica Ayers<\/a> started four freshmen in the game against Colgate: Brunette, Mansfield, Jaida Thomas<\/a> and Madisyn Weathers<\/a>. Freshman Margaret Jenkins<\/a> also saw action as a pinch runner. At the plate, the freshmen class accounted for five of the team’s 10 hits. JU’s freshmen alone outhit Colgate 5-4.<\/p>\n