The James Madison baseball team racked up 14 hits on Friday evening but dropped a 14-4 decision to UNCW in Colonial Athletic Association action at Brooks Field.
The Seahawks tallied 10 hits of their own, including a seventh-inning grand slam from senior Luke Dunlap, and took advantage of five JMU errors on the evening to capture the series and push their record to 35-16 (17-6 CAA) on the season. JMU fell to 18-32 (6-17 CAA) with the loss, stranding nine runners on base.
Sophomore first baseman Brett Johnson and freshman second baseman Kyle McPherson both racked up three hits on the evening for JMU, with Johnson adding a double, a run and an RBI. Freshman center fielder Michael Sciorra and sophomore designated hitter Ky Parrott picked up doubles in two-hit performances to account for the rest of JMU’s extra-base hits.
The Dukes struck first, bringing their first run home just two batters into the game. Senior right fielder Kevin Husum bounced a single through the left side to lead off the game, then advanced to second on a wild pitch. After working a full count, Parrott drove a double down the left field line to give JMU the 1-0 lead.
UNCW levelled things with an RBI double in the bottom of the frame, but JMU struck back in the top of the second with three singles. After Johnson and junior catcher Bobby San Martin led off the inning with base hits, Sciorra drove Johnson home with his own base hit to right field, making it 2-1.
However, the Seahawks would move in front for good their next offensive inning, plating three runs in the bottom of the second on three hits, taking advantage of a pair of JMU errors along the way. UNCW would also score five runs on three hits in the bottom of the fourth, using three walks to put the Dukes in an insurmountable 9-2 hole.
JMU scored a pair of runs in the top of the fifth on an RBI single from junior third baseman Kyle Weston and an RBI double from Johnson, but UNCW used two more errors from the Dukes and a grand slam from senior Luke Dunlap to bring five more runs across in the bottom of the seventh to make it 14-4.
Senior right-hander Derek Shifflett took the loss for JMU on the evening, falling to 0-5 after three innings of work. Junior Mark Gunst threw 1 1/3 shutout innings to close out the game, striking out a pair of hitters.
UNCW starter Ryan Foster picked up the win on the evening, yielding just two earned runs across six complete innings, and improved to 6-1 on the year. Justin Crump picked up his first save of the year after surrendering just three hits across the final three innings.
The Dukes close out their 2015 season on Saturday afternoon when they face UNCW in the final game of the three-game series. The contest will mark the final game for Head Coach Spanky McFarland, who has announced his retirement following the 2015 campaign.
First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. and UNCW will provide live video coverage.
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