RISSER, DUKES SHUT DOWN DELAWARE, WIN 9-2 IN BASEBALL

Sunday, May 15

Harrisonburg, Va.

TBA

James Madison University

24-27, 11-10

Delaware

20-31, 8-13

Delaware

James Madison

5/15/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

RISSER, DUKES SHUT DOWN DELAWARE, WIN 9-2 IN BASEBALL

In his second career start, usual closer Travis Risser tossed seven shutout innings.

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va., May 15, 2005 – James Madison sophomore right-hander Travis Risser (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra) shut out Delaware for seven innings, while juniors Michael Cowgill (Lexington, Ky./Henry Clay) and Nate Schill (Audubon, N.J./Audubon) powered the offense as the Dukes came away with a 9-2 Colonial Athletic Association baseball win against the visiting Blue Hens Sunday afternoon at Long Field/Mauck Stadium.

The Dukes remain in contention for a CAA tournament berth with an improved league record of 8-13. Overall JMU moved to 20-31 while snapping a six-game losing streak in the series, dating back to 2003. The Blue Hens, who by taking two of the three games clinched a playoff berth, slipped to 11-10 in the conference, 24-27 overall.

Risser was called upon for his second start of the season and career in his 48^th overall mound appearance for the Dukes. He was perfect before issuing a leadoff walk to junior catcher Brian Valichka (Frederick, Md./Urbana) in the fifth. The first hit he allowed was a swinging bunt to the third base side by senior second baseman Ryan Graham (Danville, Ill./Danville). Junior shortstop Todd Davison (Somers Point, N.J./St. Augustine) followed with a single to center before a grounder ended the inning.

Risser gave up just one more infield hit and finished with six strikeouts and the one walk in seven innings, the longest outing of his JMU career. Risser is normally the Dukes' closer and holds the school record for saves with 13. He improved his record to 5-3.

Cowgill went 3-for-6 at the plate and drove in two runs with a triple. He was 7-for-15 for the series and has now reached base in 48 of 51 games this season. Schill had a 3-for-4 outing and scored twice. Junior catcher Matt Sluder (Mechanicsville, Va./Lee-Davis) and left fielder Skyler Doom (Yorktown, Va./York) each collected a pair of hits for the Dukes. Sophomore shortstop Rob Altieri (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) drove in two runs for the winning cause.

The Dukes jumped out to a 4-0 first-inning lead against Hens' senior starter Scott Rambo (Downingtown, Pa./Dowingtown), who struggled with his control early. He gave up four of his nine hits allowed in the first inning, walked two and hit a batter. Rambo, 6-4, would go 4 1/3, giving up seven runs on nine hits and four walks while striking out five.

The Hens' broke up the shutout in the ninth on a two-out double by sophomore left fielder Bryan Hagerich (Somerset, Pa./Somerset). Senior designated hitter Kelly Buber (Yuba City, Calif./Yuba C.C.) was on base with a one-out single and freshman third baseman Adam Tsakonas (Pottstown, Pa./Boyertown Area) doubled with two outs to prior to the Hagerich hit. Taskonas had two of the Hens' six hits.