Harlow's Quality Start Powers Dukes Past Northeastern, 6-4

Saturday, March 26

Harrisonburg, Va.

2 p.m.

James Madison University

11-12, 2-0

Northeastern

9-11, 0-2

Northeastern

James Madison

Harlow's Quality Start Powers Dukes Past Northeastern, 6-4

3/26/2016 6:50:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va. - Sophomore left-hander Colton Harlow turned in his second consecutive quality start on Saturday afternoon to lead James Madison to a 6-4 victory in Colonial Athletic Association action at Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park.

The Dukes improved to 11-12 (2-0 CAA) with the win, marking the first time since 2013 that JMU has opened its conference slate with consecutive victories. Northeastern fell to 9-11 (0-2 CAA) with the loss.

Harlow, who had thrown a seven-inning complete game in his previous start, gave the Dukes another seven innings, scattering seven hits and striking out a pair while yielding just three runs to ease the bullpen's workload after Friday night's 19-inning contest. The Mount Jackson, Va. native improved to 2-2 with the win.

Senior shortstop Chad Carroll extended his career-long hitting streak to 19 games with a pair of infield singles in a 2-for-5 day, while sophomore right fielder Adam Sisk went 2-for-3 with a double, a run and a walk.

The Dukes struck early, going up 3-0 after just two innings, courtesy of RBI singles from junior first baseman Brett Johnson and sophomore center fielder Mike Sciorra, as well as a double steal that brought Sisk home in the second.

Northeastern cut the lead to 3-2 in the top of the third, but sophomore second baseman Kyle McPherson gave the Dukes some much-needed breathing room in the bottom half of the frame, when he launched an 0-2 pitch over the left-center field wall to plate Johnson and push the lead back to 5-2.

The Huskies scored a run in both the seventh and eighth innings, but junior left fielder Ky Parrott came home on a wild pitch in the bottom of the seventh to provide a crucial insurance run.

Junior left-hander Michael Evans, who had thrown a pair of innings on Friday night, worked out of 1st-and-2nd jams in both the eighth and ninth frames to keep Northeastern at bay, striking out a pair across 1 1/3 innings to notch his first save of the season.

Second baseman Keith Kelly provided the fireworks for the Huskies, blasting a pair of home runs over the right field fence on a 2-for-5 afternoon, while shortstop Max Burt was 3-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Northeastern starter James Mulry took the loss, surrendering six runs across 6 1/3 innings to fall to 1-5 on the year.

QUOTING COACH IKENBERRY
"Colton Harlow went out and did exactly what we needed today. I'm not sure he had his best stuff but he battled for us. I was proud of the way we approached the game and how we played offense early. Michael Evans was electric out of the bullpen to finish the game out."

PHOTO OF THE GAME - COMPLETE PHOTO GALLERY

Sophomore lefty Colton Harlow delivers a pitch in his seven-inning, three-run performance on Saturday afternoon

STILL STREAKING
Senior Chad Carroll did not waste time extending his hitting streak to a career-long 19 games, beating out an infield single to lead off the bottom of the first inning.

The JMU record for hitting streaks stands at 34 games, a mark that Mark Brockell set during the 1988 campaign and Matt Townsend matched in 2009. Carroll is three games away from cracking the top 10, with three players tied in ninth with 21-game streaks.

UP NEXT
The Dukes will close out their three-game set against Northeastern on Sunday, March 27, with a noon game at Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park. The game was previously scheduled for 2 p.m. before being moved up two hours.

MadiZone HD SportsNet will have live audio coverage of the contest.