DIAMOND DUKES COMPLETE SWEEP, COWGILL & KULBACKI GO DEEP

Monday, May 8

Towson, Md.

TBA

James Madison University

33-18, 0

Towson

15-32, 0

James Madison

Towson

DIAMOND DUKES COMPLETE SWEEP, COWGILL & KULBACKI GO DEEP

5/8/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

TOWSON, Md. - Senior second baseman Michael Cowgill (Henry Clay H.S./Lexington, Ky.) banged out two hits and drove in five runs to lead James Madison University (33-18, 20-7) to its seventh consecutive win, an 8-4 Colonial Athletic Association victory over Towson University (15-32, 4-20) in the final game of their three-game series at John B. Schuerholz Park on Monday afternoon.

With the win, the Dukes remained in second place in the CAA standings as they maintained pace with league-leading Old Dominion (37-9, 19-5). The victory also enabled the Dukes to sweep the three-game series with the Tigers.

Making his eighth start of the season, junior lefthander Jacob Cook (Lee-Davis H.S./Mecahnicsville, Va.) earned his fourth victory as he scattered eight hits and allowed only one run in a seven-inning stint. He walked three batters and had six strikeouts.

Sophomore rightfielder Kellen Kulbacki (Hershey H.S./Hershey, Pa.) gave the Dukes a 1-0 lead in the first inning when he blasted his 22^nd home run of the season down the rightfield line.

In the bottom of the first inning, senior Adam Heffron (Hammond H.S./Laurel, Md.) wasted little time in tying the score as he belted his fourth home run of the season down the rightfield line. It was Heffron's 25^th career home run.

Senior leftfielder Matt Bristow (Mills Godwin H.S./Richmond, Va.) led off the third inning with a double to right centerfield to start a three-run rally. Freshman centerfielder Matt Townsend (Hayfield H.S./Lorton, Pa.) advanced him to third base when he bunted back to the mound. Senior righthander Jason Volker (Cardinal Gibbons H.S./Severn, Md.) tried to get Bristow advancing to third base but his throw was late and both runners were safe. Sophomore third baseman Joe Lake (Long Reach H.S./Elkridge, Md.) gave the Dukes a 2-1 lead when he doubled to leftfield, putting runners on second and third. Cowgill upped the lead to 4-1 when he singled up the middle to drive in a pair of runs.

The Dukes added a run in the fifth inning when Kulbacki led off with a walk and went to third base on a single by senior first baseman Nate Schill (Audubon H.S./Audubon, N.J.). Senior catcher Matt Sluder (Lee-Davis H.S./Mechanicsville, Va.) followed with an RBI single to rightfield to increase the Dukes' lead to 5-1.

In the sixth inning, Bristow led off with a walk and came around to score when Cowgill blasted his 21^st home run of the season. Cowgill's two-run homer knocked Volker out of the game.

The Dukes added an unearned run in the eighth inning when Bristow doubled for the sixth time in two ga