Baseball Succumbs to Delaware in the Ninth, 6-4

Friday, March 30

Harrisonburg, Va.

6:30 PM

James Madison University

6-19-1, 1-9

Delaware

12-12, 5-5

Delaware

James Madison

3/30/2012 8:56:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va., March 30, 2012 - After trading goose eggs since a 4-4 tie in the fourth inning, Delaware emerged with a pair of runs in the ninth on fielder's choice grounder and a James Madison error to record a 6-4 win in the opening game of a Colonial Athletic Association baseball series on Friday night at Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park.

UD improved to 12-14 overall and 5-5 in the CAA while JMU dropped to 6-19-1 overall and 1-9 in the conference. It was the eighth straight home loss for the Dukes, who last won at Eagle Field on March 4 against Lafayette.

All of the game's scoring took place in the first four innings as Delaware answered an early 4-1 JMU advantage with one run in the third and two in the top of the fourth. The 4-4 tie held through four scoreless innings until the ninth.

Singles by left fielder Tyler Powell and designated hitter Chris Branigan along with a bunt single by center fielder Cameron Travalini loaded the bases for Delaware with one out. With the infield playing in for a potential play at the plate, third baseman Ryan Hartley chopped a high grounder to the left side with the only play at third base for the fielder's choice RBI groundout. With the runners then attempting to advance on a wild pitch to the next batter, the throw to second sailed wide into center field to allow a second run to score for a 6-4 lead for the Blue Hens.

James Madison had its chance in the bottom of the inning as junior center fielder Cole McInturff (Centreville, Va./Westfield) singled to left with one out and sophomore third baseman Conner Brown (Richmond, Va./Godwin) walked to bring the potential go-ahead run to the plate. However, junior second baseman Casey Goss (Springfield, Mo./Glendale) flew out to left and senior designated hitter Evan Scott (Haymarket, Va./Battlefield) swung and missed on the eighth pitch of his at bat to strand the runners.

Devon Pearson improved to 2-0 after 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for the Blue Hens. Stephen Richter recorded the final strikeout for his third save. Starter Eric Young allowed four runs, three earned, on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Freshman Chris Huffman (Fort Defiance, Va./Fort Defiance) took the loss for the Dukes to fall to 1-3. He allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits in two innings of work. Making his second career start and first since the seventh game of his freshman season in 2009, senior Josh Futter (Columbia, Md./Wilde Lake) allowed two runs on five hits in three innings. Freshman Michael Howerton (Chesterfield, Va./Matoaca) allowed two runs on four hits in the middle four innings.

Delaware led JMU in hits 12-9 with second baseman D.J. Long, Powell, Branigan and Travalini each posting two. First baseman Jimmy Yezzo drove in two runs with a double and two walks.

As has been the case in last four games, JMU had its share of opportunities but stranded 11 runners on the bases and hit .143 (2-for-14) with runners in scoring position. The Dukes have now stranded 60 runners over the last five games.

McInturff followed back-to-back three-hit games with two hits and a run scored against the Blue Hens. Goss also remained hot at the plate with a 2-fo