Dukes Drop Midweek Decision at No. 15 Virginia

Wednesday, April 8

Charlottesville, Va.

5 p.m.

James Madison University

12-18

Virginia

20-12

James Madison

Virginia

4/8/2015 11:59:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Junior shortstop Kyle Weston went 2-for-4 with a double on Wednesday evening, but the James Madison baseball team dropped a 14-1 decision at No. 15 Virginia in non-conference midweek action at Davenport Field.

The Dukes tallied seven hits on the evening, one that included an 87-minute rain delay in the bottom of the first inning, as they dropped to 12-18 on the season. Virginia scored in five different innings, including each of the first three frames, to improve to 20-12 and snap a four-game losing streak.

Six different players picked up at least a hit for JMU, though Weston's double was the only one to go for extra bases. Sophomore first baseman Brett Johnson also went 1-for-4 with a single in the sixth to extend his hitting streak to eight and reach base for the 13th consecutive game.

Senior right fielder Kevin Husum and freshman second baseman Kyle McPherson both matched Johnson's 1-for-4 performance, while sophomore left fielder Ky Parrott and junior shortstop Chad Carroll each picked up singles as well.

Virginia jumped ahead early, tallying three hits with its first four at-bats and capping things off with Kenny Towns' three-run home run over the left field wall to make it 3-0. Late in the inning, inclement weather forced the suspension of play for 87 minutes before JMU escaped the frame.

The Cavaliers added four runs on five hits in the bottom of the second, including three straight hits to open the frame, before JMU plated its only run of the game. Weston led off the top of the third with an infield single before moving to second base on a groundout and third on a wild pitch, putting him in position to score as Husum reached on an error, cutting the lead to 7-1.

After Virginia escaped the inning with runners on first and second, the Cavaliers scored three runs of their own in the bottom half of the frame to go up 10-1 before tacking on two runs in both the sixth and eighth innings to finish JMU off.

Six different pitchers saw time for the Dukes on the evening, as freshman Tucker McCoy took the loss for JMU. Derek Casey threw four innings for the Cavaliers, giving up just one hit to earn the win and move to 3-1 on the year.

The Dukes are back in action this weekend when they head north to Brookline, Mass., for a crucial, three-game, Colonial Athletic Association series at Northeastern. The Huskies are currently in fifth place in the league, two games ahead of JMU. All three games will be afternoon bouts, with Friday and Saturday's contests starting at 3 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively, before a 12 p.m. matchup on Sunday closes out the weekend.