JU's Richard Long spins another gem, Chandler Howard drives in four to lead Dolphins past EKU

Junior right-hander Richard Long posted another solid pitching performance and designated hitter Chandler Howard drove in four runs as the Jacksonville University baseball team opened the ASUN Tournament on Tuesday with a 6-2 victory over Eastern Kentucky at Conrad Park in DeLand.

The fifth-seeded Dolphins (26-29) advanced to the winner’s bracket of Pool B and will play the winner of a game on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. between No. 6 Central Arkansas and No. 7 Lipscomb.

Box: Dolphins 6, Colonels 2

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Long pitched six innings of four-hit ball and gave up one earned run, on an RBI single in the first by Connor Davis.

JU went ahead for good with a three-run third, highlighted by Howard’s two-run double following a single by Will Gale and walks to Jaden Bastian and Tyrell Brewer. Clayton Hodges then hit a sacrifice fly to score Brewer.

The Colonels (21-36) cut the margin to 3-2 when Tait Nunnally doubled to score Ron Franklin Jr., who reached on an error.

Jacksonville responded with a three-run fifth, two on a single by Howard to score Gale and Bastian. Brewer, who had filled the bases before Howard came to bat with a bunt single, then stole home.

Long (8-2), a Clay graduate, has a 1.61 ERA and has allowed only seven earned runs and eight walks, with 30 strikeouts, in his last six starts, covering 39 innings. He is 5-0 during that span and went to 7-0 in ASUN games.

Tommy Allman and Isacc Williams combined for three innings of two-hit relief.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: JU's Richard Long spins another gem, Chandler Howard drives in four to lead Dolphins past EKU