TIGERS SHUT DOWN DUKES FOR 4-2 CAA BASEBALL WIN

Saturday, May 12

Harrisonburg, Va.

1:00 PM

James Madison University

21-27, 10-14

Towson

19-28, 9-16

Towson

James Madison

5/12/2007 4:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va., May 12, 2007 ? Three Towson University pitchers combined to limit James Madison University to five hits in a 4-2 Colonial Athletic Association win on Saturday afternoon at Long Field/Mauck Stadium.

TU improved to 19-28 overall and 9-16 in the CAA. The Tigers snapped a five-game losing streak against the Dukes. JMU fell to 21-27 overall and 10-14 in conference play. The Dukes had a three-game winning streak snapped.

Senior Matt Holley (Elkridge, Md./Howard) scattered five hits over five innings and allowed two runs to pick up the win for the Tigers to improve to 4-1.. Freshman Wes Shifflett (Gaithersburg, Md./Watkins Mill) and junior Jon Dupski (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial) held the Dukes hitless over the final four innings with three strikeouts each. Dupski recorded his third save.

Freshman Steve Yarsinsky (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) had three of Towson's seven hits. Junior Brian Conley (Gaithersburg, Md./Quince Orchard) and sophomore Gary Helmick (Pasadena, Md./Northeast) each had RBIs. The Tigers also scored runs on a wild pitch and on a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt attempt.

Both of those miscues came from JMU sophomore starter Kurt Houck (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown), who fell to 4-7. He limited the Tigers to five hits in 5 1/3 innings, but Houck also issued a season-high six walks and threw three wild pitches. Redshirt junior Trevor Kaylid (Cary, N.C./Green Hope) and senior Bobby Lasko (Athens, Pa./Athens) held the Tigers at bay over the final 3 2/3 innings.

Senior Davis Stoneburner (Richmond, Va./Mills Godwin) had two hits for the Dukes but also had a near tying home run caught at the wall in the fifth inning. Senior Dan Santobianco (Wilmington, Del./Brandywine) had a solo home run to move into a tie for sixth in career home runs at JMU with 33, equaling Scott Mackie (1985-87).

Towson struck first in the game's first inning. Houck picked off the first base runner, but senior Hans Falkenhan (Silver Spring, Md./Blake) was hit by a pitch, and senior Kyle Skellchock (Germantown, Md./Watkins Mill) singled to put two runners on. Conley followed with an RBI double to plate the first run. With two outs and the bases loaded, Helmick dropped a well-placed bunt down the third base line for an infield RBI single.

The Dukes got one back in their half of the first. Redshirt junior Joe Lake (Elkridge, Md./Long Reach) and Stoneburner led off the frame with singles and advanced a base on a wild pitch. Redshirt sophomore Lee Bujakowski (Hopewell, Va./Hopewell) flew out to deep center field for the sacrifice fly to score Lake.

Towson added to its lead in the fourth inning, putting the first two runners on with a walk and single. Freshman Kevin Collins (Gaithersburg, Md./Quince Orchard) tried to sacrifice the runners over a base, but Houck's throw to second sailed high for an error as one run came in to score. A wild pitch then scored another run.

JMU got one run back in the fifth inning on a solo home run to right center by Santobianco. It was his second home run of the season and the 33^rd of his career. That ended the scoring as neither team could push a run across the plate over the final five innings.

Prior to the game, JMU honored eight seniors who are wrapping up their careers in Harrisonburg. They included Rob Altieri, Jacob Cook, Bobby Lasko, Clay McKim, Mitchell Moses, Dan Santobianco, Davis Stoneburner, and Allie Swanson.

The Mother's Day series finale will be Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.