Maryland completes season sweep of JMU baseball

Maryland turned a four-run deficit into a four-run lead thanks to an eight-run sixth inning as part of a 10-7 win over James Madison in a non-conference baseball game on Tuesday afternoon at Shipley Field.

UM (13-7) swept the season series with the win, having also defeated JMU (11-8) 10-5 on Feb. 27 in Harrisonburg.

JMU led 5-1 after taking the lead with three runs in the fifth and one in the sixth.  However, Maryland turned the tide quickly in the sixth.  Kevin Martir’s RBI single and Blake Schmit’s RBI double got things started for the Terrapins.  New JMU pitcher Chris Huffman (Fort Defiance, Va./Fort Defiance) inherited two runners in scoring position with one out and allowed both to score on a double to tie the game. White’s two-run triple gave Maryland the lead while a sacrifice bunt by Kyle Convissar and K.J. Hockaday’s double each scored runs to make it 9-1.

Maryland reliever Jake Drossner earned the win despite allowing four runs in two innings on five hits.  LaMonte Wade was perfect the last two frames to earn the save.  Huffman took the loss to fall to 1-2 after allowing five runs on six hits in 2 2/3 innings.

Senior second baseman Casey Goss (Springfield, Mo./Glenville) and senior outfielder Cole McInturff (Centreville, Va./Westfield) each drove in a pair of runs for JMU with McInturff also walking twice.  Senior center fielder Johnny Bladel (Ashburn, Va./Stone Bridge) stayed hot with a pair of hits, an RBI and a walk.  Sophomore left fielder Chad Carroll (Oakton, Va./Oakton) had two hits and scored twice while sophomore shortstop Tyler Duke (Troutville, Va./James River) also had two hits.

Schmit was 3-for-5 with two runs scored for Maryland.  Charlie White, Wade and Hockaday each had two hits for Maryland, which had 14 in the game.

Tied 1-1 in the early going, JMU took the lead with three runs in the fifth on an RBI double by Goss .  McInturff added a two-run single to left to make it 4-1.  The Dukes added a run in the sixth on an RBI double by junior designated hitter Conner Brown (Richmond, Va./Godwin).

After Maryland struck for its big eight-run frame, the Dukes answered with two in the seventh on an RBI groundout by freshman catcher Bobby San Martin and Bladel’s RBI single.  However, Wade retired all six JMU batters faced while also receiving an insurance run in the seventh with the aid of a JMU error on a bunt attempt.

JMU will make the return trek North on I-81 and East on I-66 for a three-game set at George Mason this weekend, beginning with Friday’s 3 p.m. first game.