JMU BASEBALL TRAVELS TO DEFENDING-CHAMPION VCU FOR CAA SERIES

James Madison baseball returns to Colonial Athletic Association play this weekend, traveling to Richmond to face VCU in a three-game series at The Diamond. The series begins Friday at 6 p.m. and continues Saturday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

The Dukes are coming off a 7-3 loss to No. 5 Virginia that saw their overall record fall to 13-4. In the CAA, the Dukes are 5-1 and have won 10 consecutive series dating back to last year. VCU lost at High Point on Wednesday 8-2 and will play its first league series in the CAA against the Dukes this weekend.

Shortstop David Herbek stepped up in the game against Virginia with two hits, two walks and two RBIs on his seventh home run. Tyler McFarland took the loss in his second career start after allowing four runs on five hits in two innings. He was the first of eight JMU pitchers in the game.

The Dukes had trouble hitting against Virginia's strong pitching squad. Sophomore outfielders Cole McInturff and Johnny Bladel each had two hits as four players accounted for all seven JMU hits.

Despite the 7-3 loss to the Cavaliers, JMU still leads the nation in runs per game with 11.9. Slugger Jake Lowery has been leading the Dukes offense this season with a notable .418 batting average, nine home runs (leads the nation), three triples, 28 hits, 30 RBIs (second nationally), 27 runs (leads the nation), and a .955 slugging percentage through 17 games.

Following the series in Richmond, the Dukes will return home to host Cornell on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. and Wednesday at 4 p.m.

SCOUTING VCU

Prior to losing at High Point, the Rams went 2-2 in the Terry Sisisky Classic at The Diamond, taking one victory each against Princeton and Holy Cross. The Rams are 6-10 overall and 4-7 at home. VCU has been led by its pitching staff with a 4.41 team ERA and .279 opponent average. David Benson has 23 strikeouts and a 2.00 ERA with only four earned runs allowed in 18 innings pitched.

John Lenherr leads the Rams offense with a .443 batting average, 14 runs, 27 hits, five doubles, three triples, and nine RBIs. As a team, the Rams are batting .287 with 158 hits, 31 doubles, 87 runs, and a .381 slugging percentage.

SERIES HISTORY

Overall, JMU leads VCU 54-40-1. Last season the Dukes finished the regular season at The Diamond by winning two out of three games to clinch first place in the CAA. However, the Rams then evened the season score by sending JMU to the loser's bracket in second game of the CAA Tournament by a final of 6-3.

STARTING PITCHING

Game 1 - Friday 6 p.m.

JMU - Evan Scott, Jr., RHP (2-1, 4.79 ERA)

Scott leads the JMU starters this season in ERA and has 18 strikeouts and 11 earned runs allowed in 20 2/3 innings pitched. He also leads the team in opposing batting average with batters only hitting .209.

VCU - Seth Cutler-Voltz, Jr., RHP (1-1, 3.96 ERA)

Cutler-Voltz leads the Rams in strikeouts with 24. Last season he finished the season with a team-high eight wins and a 3.47 ERA. He proved to have a strong stamina last season as he pitched a complete game against Georgia State in the CAA tournament and 119 1/3 innings for the season