DUKES FINISH SWEEP OF PANTHERS 8-3

Sunday, March 9

Panthersville, Ga.

1:00 PM

James Madison University

8-3, 5-1

Georgia State

9-4, 0-3

James Madison

Georgia State

3/9/2008 8:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

PANTHERSVILLE, Ga., March 9, 2008 ? James Madison University took command with a six-run fourth inning and sophomore Kyle Hoffman (Reading, Pa./Twin Valley) pitched eight innings in an 8-3 victory to complete a Colonial Athletic Association sweep of Georgia State University on Sunday afternoon at The Field at Panthersville.

JMU won its fourth in a row to improve to 8-3 overall while also running its CAA mark to 5-1. The sweep was the first for the Dukes in conference play since May of 2006. JMU improved to 11-2 all-time against GSU, which fell to 9-4 overall for the season and 0-3 in the CAA.

Hoffman gave JMU its longest start of the season and the longest of his career, allowing two runs in eight innings. He struck out a season-best seven batters while allowing two runs on six hits.

The Dukes trailed 1-0 when they posted six runs in the fourth inning to take command. The rally was fueled by a two-run triple by redshirt sophomore first baseman Steven Caseres (New City, N.Y./St. Joseph Regional) and a three-run home run by junior catcher Brett Garner (Burke, Va./Lake Braddock).

Garner finished with a 2-for-3 performance with three RBIs, a run, and a walk. Caseres was 2-for-4 with three RBIs, two runs scored, and a walk. Sophomore designated hitter Matt Browning (Mystic, Conn./Fitch) and freshman third baseman McKinnon Langston (Tallahassee, Fla./North Florida Christian) each had two hits and an RBI with Langston adding a run scored.

Senior Drew Grant (Peachtree City, Ga./Southern Union St. C.C.) took the loss for the Panthers, allowing five runs on six hits in 3 1/3 innings. Junior right fielder Matt Van Horn (Marietta, Ga./Marietta) was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Redshirt junior Derek Simmons (Duluth, Ga.) also had a pair of hits. Junior Chase Childers (Kennesaw, Ga./North Cobb Christian) had a solo home run.

After JMU had grabbed the early lead in each of the previous two games, GSU took command early this time with a leadoff walk followed quickly by an RBI double by Van Horn before an out had been recorded.