Left-hander Kyle Hald struck out 10 in seven innings and shortstop Josh Wright delivered the big hit with a three-run home run in the fifth to lead Old Dominion to a 5-4 win over James Madison in the opener of a three-game Colonial Athletic Association baseball series on Friday afternoon at Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park.
ODU improved to 11-13 overall and 4-3 in the CAA while JMU dropped to 17-6 overall and 7-3 in the league.
The Monarchs held a slim 2-1 edge after four innings when Wright connected on his two-out, three-run shot on an 0-2 pitch in the fifth inning. The Dukes chipped away at Hald, ODU’s ace, with two in the sixth and one in the seventh.
JMU had opportunities in the ninth after a leadoff single by sophomore right fielder Cole McInturff (Centreville, Va./Westfield), but a sacrifice bunt attempt retired the lead runner at second and a caught stealing made it two quick outs. Junior catcher Jake Lowery (Midlothian, Va./Cosby) singled and pinch runner Trevor Knight (Charlottesville, Va./St. Anne’s-Belfield) stole second. However, senior shortstop David Herbek struck out on a low and tailing-away outside pitch to end the game.
Hald finished with 10 strikeouts and four runs allowed on six hits in seven innings to improve to 3-2. Dean Ali worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings before Adam Wisniewski came on for the strikeout of Herbek to pick up his fifth save.
The loss spoiled a solid outing by JMU junior right-hander Evan Scott (Haymarket, Va./Battlefield). He fell to 2-2 after throwing 147 pitches in a season-best eight innings of work. He allowed five runs on eight hits with five strikeouts and four walks, but most of the damage came on two big swings, home runs by Wright and center fielder Kenny Stoneback.
Wright finished 2-for-3 with the three RBIs on the home run along with two runs scored and two walks. Right fielder Nathan Hartman also had a pair of hits for the Monarchs.
Herbek was 2-for-4 with a double, run, RBI and a walk for the Dukes. Lowery was also 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a hit by pitch. Freshman first baseman Tyler McFarland (Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby) had a pair of singles and drove in two runs.
Both pitchers were cruising in the early innings. The first hit in the game came with two outs in the third as Stoneback sent a ball the opposite way into the ODU bullpen for a quick 1-0 lead for the Monarchs.
In the fourth, ODU got a one-out double from Wright. After a dropped fly ball for an error, Wright stole third and scored on a single through the left side by Sizemore to make it 2-0.
JMU didn’t get its first hit until junior center fielder Ian Haynes (Danville, Va./Tunstall) led off the fourth with a single. He stole second and moved to third on a one-out single by Herbek. After a fielder’s choice, McFarland hit a sharp single to right to drive in Haynes and cut the ODU lead to 2-1. A walk by freshman third baseman Conner Brown (Richmond, Va./Godwin) loaded the bases but a foul out by sophomore second baseman Bradley Shaban (Midlothian, Va./Cosby) ended the inning.
In the fifth, ODU got a one-out walk and a two-out single to put runners on the corners. Wright then smacked an 0-2 pitch to left for a three-run home run and a 5-1 lead for the Monarchs.
In the sixth, Lowery led off with a double and Herbek walked. After a strikeout, McFarland blooped a single to left center for one run. A double steal and a walk loaded the bases and a sacrifice fly by Shaban made it 5-3.
ODU loaded the bases with one out in the seventh but a double play escaped the jam. In the bottom of the frame, two Dukes went down quickly on strikeouts before Lowery was hit by a pitch. Herbek then lofted a high fly to shallow center with the shortstop, Wright, unable to make the sliding catch over his shoulder. Lowery scored all the way from first on the double to make it 5-4. Herbek stole third but sophomore left fielder Johnny Bladel (Ashburn, Va./Stone Bridge) struck out on a full count to end the inning.
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