February 4, 2000

Jacksonville, Fla. - Two days after opening the 2000 season with a 7-4 victory over FAMU in Tallahassee, Jacksonville (2-0) exploded for 23 runs in seven innings as the Dolphins defeated Florida A&M (0-2) by the score of 23-4 in their home opener at Alexander Brest Field Friday afternoon. The win was the 16th straight over the Rattlers for the Dolphins, dating back to the 1992 season.

Jacksonville jumped out to a 1-0 lead after the first inning on an RBI single by senior John Vollstedt (Jacksonville, Fla.). Sophomore Troy Veleber (Jacksonville, Fla.), who had singled and stolen a base, scored on the Vollstedt hit. Both teams went scoreless in the second before FAMU took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third. JU responded with three of their own in the bottom half of the inning, scoring two runs on a passed ball and an error, and plating their third on an RBI single by Vollstedt. Veleber, Vollstedt and junior Phil Nover (Pace, Fla.) all scored in the inning.

Leading 4-2 after three innings, Jacksonville scored a single run in the fourth on a Jarvis Fraser (Macclenny, Fla.) solo home run. The homer was the second of the sophomore's career at JU. After allowing FAMU to score two in the top of the fifth on a two-run home run by Reggie Griggs, Jacksonville broke it open in the bottom of the inning with eight runs on five hits, three walks and two hit batters. The big hit of the inning came off the bat of junior Scott Biernacki (DeLand, Fla.), a deep three-run home run to center field, the first of his JU career.

With a 13-4 lead heading to the bottom of the sixth, the Dolphins exploded for 10 runs on seven hits and four walks. The offensive outburst by the Dolphins in the sixth gave JU a 19 run lead, a lead big enough to have the game called after the FAMU top side of the seventh.

All 16 Jacksonville batters reached base in the game as the Dolphins posted 20 hits in 36 at-bats. Vollstedt and Nover led the Dolphin hit-parade with three hits apiece. Veleber, junior Bret Catto (Jacksonville, Fla.) and Biernacki had two hits each while Veleber also added a team-high four runs scored. Biernacki and Nover each had three RBI, while Vollstedt, freshman Chad Hausman (Pottstown, Penn.), sophomore Josh Johnson (Jacksonville, Fla.) and junior Dale Johnson (Macclenny) had two RBI apiece.

Freshman Josh Nichols (Starke, Fla.) picked up the win for JU in his first collegiate start, pitching 4.0 innings and allowing two runs on five hits. Nichols struck out three and walked three before turning the game over to senior Sam Shippee (Sherman Station, Maine). Shippee pitched 2.0 innings, allowing two runs on two hits while striking out three Rattlers. Sophomore Jason Ryals closed out the day for the Dolphins pitching staff by allowing one hit and striking out one in 1.0 inning of work.

JU will return to action on Saturday afternoon when they host South Florida for the first of two games to be played against the Bulls this weekend. Jacksonville will also face USF on Sunday, game time 1:00 PM both days.