DUKES PULL AWAY FOR 5-3 WIN OVER PATRIOTS

Saturday, April 19

Fairfax, Va.

2:00 PM

James Madison University

26-10, 16-4

George Mason

19-20, 12-7

James Madison

George Mason

4/19/2008 4:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va., April 19, 2008 ? Freshman McKinnon Langston's (Tallahasee, Fla./North Florida Christian) two-run double in the seventh proved to be the game winner as James Madison University topped George Mason University 5-3 in game two of a Colonial Athletic Association baseball series on Saturday afternoon at Spuhler Field.

JMU improved 26-10 overall and 16-4 in the CAA. The Dukes improved to 5-2 in two-run games and 7-1 in the middle game of a weekend series. GMU dropped to 19-20 overall and 12-7 in the conference. The Patriots missed their opportunity to gain a winning record for the first time all season.

The Dukes put runners on first and third with no outs in the seventh inning on consecutive singles by redshirt junior Brett Sellers (Greencastle, Pa./Greencastle-Antrim) and redshirt sophomore Steven Caseres (New City, N.Y./St. Joseph Regional). However, a strikeout and a popup left it up to Langston to bring in the run from third. He came through by lining the first-pitch fastball the opposite way to the gap in right center to score both runs.

The Patriots made it interesting in the ninth with consecutive leadoff singles by sophomore Chris Henderson (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) and sophomore Justin Bour (Centreville, Va./Westfield) against JMU reliever Turner Phelps (Roanoke, Va./Lord Botetourt). JMU turned to redshirt freshman closer Trevor Knight (Charlottesville, Va./St. Anne's-Belfield), who struck out consecutive batters. After a walk loaded the bases, Knight then got junior Brent Weiss (Suffern, N.Y./St. Joseph Regional) to fly out to left field to seal his fourth save of the season.

The rally in the seventh made a winner of redshirt junior Kurt Houck (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown). The right hander allowed three runs, two earned, on nine hits with four strikeouts in six innings. He improved to 5-1 while not issuing a walk for the first time all season.

Langston was 2-for-3 with a walk, a run scored, and two RBIs. His double was the only extra-base hit for either team. Redshirt senior Joe Lake (Elkridge, Md./Long Reach) was 3-fo