DAVISON RALLIES DELAWARE PAST DUKES, 7-4, IN CAA BASEBALL

Friday, May 13

Harrisonburg, Va.

TBA

James Madison University

19-30, 7-12

Delaware

23-26, 10-9

Delaware

James Madison

DAVISON RALLIES DELAWARE PAST DUKES, 7-4, IN CAA BASEBALL

5/13/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

DAVISON RALLIES DELAWARE PAST DUKES, 7-4, IN CAA BASEBALL

Michael Cowgill hit his 12th homer of the season in the Dukes' 7-4 setback to the Blue Hens.

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va., May 13, 2005 – Junior shortstop Todd Davison (Somers Point, N.J./St. Augustine) went 4-for-5 with three RBI and junior Brent Gaphardt (Bel Air, Md./Dundalk) tossed six innings of three-hit, shut-out relief to lead Delaware to victory, 7-4, in the first of a three-game Colonial Athletic Association baseball series against host James Madison Friday at Long Field/Mauck Stadium.

The Blue Hens snapped a three-game conference losing streak to improve to 10-9 in league play while moving to 23-26 overall. The Dukes slipped to 7-12 in CAA games and fell to seventh place in the standings behind William & Mary, which is idle in CAA play this weekend. Overall, JMU goes to 19-30. Delaware has now won the last five in this series.

Davison highlighted a four-run seventh inning with a two-run triple into the right-field corner, tying the score at 4-all. He scored the go-head run on a single in the hole to left by senior designated hitter Kelly Buber (Yuba City, Calif./Yuba Community College). The final run of the inning crossed on an errant pick-off attempt at first base, allowing Buber to trot in from third for the score.

Gaphardt entered to start the fourth inning after the Dukes had scored in each of their first three innings for a 4-0 lead. The left-hander did not allow a hit until he gave up an infield safety in the seventh. The Dukes managed just two more singles, while Gaphardt finished with seven strikeouts and two walks. He improved his record to 3-5.

The Blue Hens got on the board when freshman center field Brandon Menchaca (Wilmington, Del./Concord) homered for the team-high eighth time this season, with two outs in the fourth. Davison singled in the Hens' second run of the game an inning later.

The Dukes built their lead, in part, on solo homers by junior second baseman Michael Cowgill (Lexington, Ky./Henry Clay) and freshman left fielder Ryan Reid (Portland, Maine/Deering). Cowgill was the only Duke with two hits, and the homer was his third in two games and 12^th of the season.

JMU senior right-hander Brian Leatherwood (Norfolk, Va./Granby) limited the Blue Hens to a pair of runs on seven hits and walk. He struck out four in his start before yielding to sophomore left-hander Jacob Cook (Mechanicsville, Va./Lee-Davis) in the seventh. Cook was stung by the loss and fell to 3-7.

JMU reliever Clay McKim (Hanover, Pa./Delone Catholic) stopped the rally and went on to toss three innings of one-hit, one-run relief. He fanned four and walked none.

The series continues with a pair of 1 p.m. starts on Saturday and Sunday.