JMU CRUISES TO 11-2 BASEBALL WIN AT LIBERTY

Wednesday, April 18

Lynchburg, Va.

3:00 PM

James Madison University

13-24

Liberty

23-16

James Madison

Liberty

4/18/2007 4:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

LYNCHBURG, Va., April 18, 2007 ? James Madison University jumped out to a 5-0 lead after three innings and cruised to an 11-2 decision over Liberty University in a non-conference baseball game on Wednesday afternoon at Worthington Stadium.

JMU improved to 13-24 and swept the season series against Liberty. The Dukes won in Harrisonburg March 14 by a score of 8-3. LU fell to 23-16 on the season.

Senior Jacob Cook (Mechanicsville, Va./Lee-Davis) picked up the win with five shutout innings. He allowed four hits and recorded three strikeouts to climb into third on the career list at JMU with 221, passing Dana Allison (1986-89) at 220. The start marked the 85^th career appearance for Cook, making him JMU's all-time leader passing Ryan New (1996-99).

Junior Kellen Kulbacki (Palmyra, Pa./Hershey) smacked a first-inning home run to increase his season total to 15 and JMU career record to 47. The home run was also his 98^th career extra-base hit, breaking the previous mark of 97 shared by Eddie Kim (2000-03) and Michael Cowgill (2003-06).

Redshirt senior Mitchell Moses (Richmond, Va./Mills Godwin) went 3-for-5 with two doubles, two RBIs, two runs, and two steals. Sophomore Brett Garner (Burke, Va./Lake Braddock) was 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and two RBIs. Senior Rob Altieri (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) had two hits, an RBI, and a run.

Sophomore Tyler Light (San Bernadino, Calif.) started and took the loss for the Flames, allowing three runs on four hits in two innings. Five relievers combined to work the final seven innings.

Junior P.K. Keller (Clearwater, Fla.) and senior Tim Nanry (Rochester, N.Y.) each had three hits for Liberty. Senior Phil John (Linwood, N.J.) had the lone RBI.

The Dukes jumped on the board first in the first inning with an opposite-field home run by Kulbacki. It was his fourth opposite-field home run and fifth home run in his last five games.

Two runs came in during the second inning with a leadoff double by Garner and a one-out RBI single just to the left of the diving third baseman by Altieri. Altieri advanced to second on a wild pitch and came in to score on a single to left by redshirt junior Joe Lake (Elkridge, Md./Long Reach).

Kulbacki and senior Davis Stoneburner (Richmond, Va./Mills Godwin) each reached on errors on ground balls to the left side of the infield to start the third inning. After a double steal, Garner doubled to left center and Garrett Young (Fountain Valley, Calif.) was unable to come up with the diving attempt for the out, allowing both runs to score.

JMU added a two-out run in the fifth when Moses doubled to left center, stole third, and came in to score when the throw to third base by the catcher, Nate Thompson (Stoneville, N.C.), sailed high into left field for an error.

Liberty loaded the bases with one out in the sixth on a walk, single, and another walk off JMU freshman reliever Dustin Crouch (Amherst, Va./Amherst). John then came through with a single through the right side to score the first run of the day for the Flames. Crouch recovered to retire the next two batters on an infield pop up and a strikeout.

Freshman Alex Foltz (Mathias, W.Va./East Hardy) and Stoneburner each walked in the seventh and advanced on a double steal. Both came in to score on a double inside the bag at first by Moses. He stole third and came in to score on a sacrifice fly to center by freshman Matt Browning (Mystic, Conn./Fitch).

Liberty brought in a run in the seventh when sophomore Ken Negron (Kingwood, Texas) scored on a double-play ball hit by Young.

The Dukes brought in their 10^th run on a double play hit by redshirt freshman Chris Johnson (Shrewsbury, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) with redshirt sophomore