JMU pitchers dominate Maryland

Nine James Madison pitchers tossed one inning apiece to combine on a four-hitter in a 6-1 victory over Maryland in a nonconference baseball game Tuesday evening at Shipley Field.

JMU improved to 26-12 overall with its fourth win in five games and defeated Maryland for the second time in seven days after a 12-8 win in 12 innings last Wednesday. UM dropped to 17-21.

The four hits and one run allowed by the Dukes’ pitching staff each matched season lows. Senior left-hander Alex Valadja (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Catholic) earned the win in the predetermined short outing as JMU led 2-0 before he took the hill in the first. The Dukes received perfect innings from junior Scott Mayer (Waterford, Va./Loudoun Valley) in the fifth, freshman Ty McFarland (Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby) in the seventh and senior James Weiner (Charlottesville, Va./St. Anne’s-Belfield) in the ninth.

Sophomore first baseman Matt Tenaglia (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East) was key in jumping out to the early lead with a pair of two-out hits on a double in the first and a single in the third. He finished 3-for-5 with three RBIs. Senior center fielder Alex Foltz (Mathias, W.Va./East Hardy) was 3-for-3 with three runs and two walks. Senior shortstop David Herbek (Haymarket, Va./Battlefield) and sophomore left fielder Cole McInturff (Centreville, Va./Westfield) had two hits each in JMU’s 12-hit attack.

Starter Sander Beck took the loss for Maryland to fall to 2-4 after allowing three runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings. Third baseman Jake Stinnett had a solo home run for the Terps’ only run.

JMU used a two-out rally to grab the lead in the first inning. After a pair of strikeouts, Herbek and Foltz reached on consecutive singles. Tenaglia roped a double to the corner in right to stake the Dukes to a 2-0 lead.

Maryland picked up its only run in the bottom of the second with a two-out solo home run to left by Stinnett.

The Dukes made it another two-out rally in the third as Foltz singled to right and advanced to second when the right fielder bobbled the ball. Tenaglia singled up the middle to score Foltz for a 3-1 lead.

The game remained 3-1 until the seventh when McInturff led off with a bunt single and reached second on a throwing error to first. Sophomore Johnny Bladel (Ashburn, Va./Stone Bridge), who also pitched the eighth inning, followed with a sacrifice bunt attempt with the throw to third again getting away and allowing McInturff to score with Bladel reaching second. After a fly out, Herbek singled to right center to score Bladel for a 5-1 lead.

Maryland had two total hits after seven innings before a pair of one-out hits in the eighth. However, Bladel recovered with a strikeout and a groundout to end the threat.

Foltz walked and Tenaglia singled with one out in the ninth. A sacrifice bunt by junior Ian Haynes (Danville, Va./Tunstall) advanced both and McFarland was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Freshman second baseman Conner Brown (Richmond, Va./Godwin) then drew a walk to plate Foltz and make it 6-1.