DELAWARE RALLIES FOR 8-7 WIN OVER JMU

Sunday, April 19

Newark, Del.

1:00 PM

James Madison University

23-18, 8-7

Delaware

22-14, 8-7

James Madison

Delaware

4/19/2009 9:30:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

NEWARK, Del., April 19, 2009 ? Designated hitter Chris Nehl singled in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth to complete a four-run inning as Delaware rallied for an 8-7 victory over James Madison in the finale of a Colonial Athletic Association baseball series on Sunday afternoon at Bob Hannah Stadium.

UD improved to 22-14 overall and 8-7 in the CAA while JMU fell to 23-18 overall and 8-7 in the league. The Dukes had won six straight overall and six straight against the Blue Hens going into the day.

JMU led 7-2 going into the bottom of the sixth before Delaware started its comeback with one run. The Blue Hens added one in the eighth before striking for four in the ninth.

A single by center fielder Scott Shockley and a double by pinch hitter Jared Olson put two in scoring position. An RBI groundout by third baseman Carlos Alonso brought in one. First baseman Ryan Cuneo walked to put runners at the corners with one out while bringing the potential winning run to the plate. Olson scored on a wild pitch with the pinch runner, Zach Costello, moving all the way to third. Catcher Ryan Reed hit a line-drive single to right center to bring in the tying run at 7-7. Nehl then bounced a single over third baseman McKinnon Langston's (Tallahassee, Fla./North Florida Christian) head for the game winner.

Corey Crispell earned the victory in relief for the Blue Hens after holding the Dukes to one hit while striking out four in three innings.

Sophomore Kevin Munson (Roanoke, Va./Cave Spring) took the loss for the Dukes after allowing five runs on six hits in 1 1/3 innings in relief.

The loss for the Dukes came despite a dominating start by redshirt sophomore Trevor Knight (Charlottesville, Va./St. Anne's-Belfield). The right hander struck out 14 batters in seven innings, both career highs, while allowing three runs, two earned, on eight hits. It was the most strikeouts in a game for a JMU pitcher since Ryan Reid had 14 against Towson in 2006.