Dukes Fall to Gardner-Webb to Close Out Road Trip

Saturday, February 14

Boiling Springs, N.C.

3 p.m.

James Madison University

2-1

Gardner-Webb

2-1

James Madison

Gardner-Webb

2/14/2015 7:42:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - The James Madison baseball team could not bounce back from a six-run first inning on Saturday afternoon, dropping a 10-0 decision to Gardner-Webb in the last contest of a three-game, season-opening road trip.

The Bulldogs struck early and often against the Dukes, scoring nine runs across the first four innings, while Gardner-Webb starter Matt Fraudin allowed just three hits across seven innings to drop JMU to 2-1 on the young season.

After senior Henry Rundio led off Gardner-Webb's first inning with a solo home run to right, JMU senior starter Derek Shifflett retired two of the next three hitters and almost escaped the inning without further damage.

Another single to left was amplified by an error in the outfield, allowing a second run and leaving a runner on third with two outs. After another single and a walk, senior first baseman Sam Fulginiti blasted another home run to right-center field to put the Bulldogs up 6-0.

Gardner-Webb picked up another pair of runs in the third inning with a walk, a double and two singles, before getting a walk, a fielder's choice and a double in the fourth to make things 9-0 and chase Shifflett at the end of the frame.

JMU's bullpen performed well for a third consecutive game, allowing just one earned run on one hit through four innings of relief, but the Dukes' offense mustered just five baserunners and no extra-base hits on the afternoon.

Gardner-Webb scattered four singles and a walk to the JMU offense, as sophomore designated hitter Ky Parrott picked up a single to left in the second inning, senior right fielder Kevin Husum ripped one up the middle in the sixth and junior shortstop Chad Carroll pulled one to left in the eighth.

The fifth inning proved to be JMU's best chance on the afternoon, as Parrott walked with one out and junior catcher Bobby San Martin followed that with an immediate single. Sophomore left fielder Josh Wyatt grounded into a fielder's choice, moving Parrott to third, and advanced to second on a wild pitch, but a strikeout ended the inning with no damage.

After the first four innings, a combination of sophomore Ford Bradshaw and freshmen Colton Harlow, Daniel Pinson and Tucker McCoy quieted the Gardner-Webb bats, holding the Bulldogs to one hit--a solo home run with two outs in the bottom of the eighth--across four innings of relief work.

Through three games, JMU's bullpen has allowed just one earned run and five hits across 14.2 innings of work, striking out 17 batters along the way.

The Dukes will be back in action on Tuesday, Feb. 17, when they open their home campaign with a 4 p.m. contest against Longwood in Harrisonburg. The game marks the first of 13 consecutive home bouts for JMU spanning 22 days.

Season ticket packages for all 29 home games start at $40, with Family Plans as low as $80. Visit JMUSports.com/tickets or call 540-JMU-DUKE (568-3853) for more information.