McPherson's Four-Hit Night Leads Dukes Past VMI

Tuesday, March 8

Lexington, Va.

4 p.m.

James Madison University

6-6

VMI

7-7

James Madison

VMI

3/8/2016 9:37:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

LEXINGTON, Va. - Sophomore second baseman Kyle McPherson went 4-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and three runs on Tuesday evening to lead James Madison to an 12-8 win over VMI in non-conference baseball action at Gray-Minor Stadium.

The Dukes, who are now 2-0 in midweek contests, improved to 6-6 on the year on the strength of their fourth consecutive double-digit scoring effort and 7 1/3 innings of one-run relief from the JMU bullpen. The victory, JMU's first at VMI since the 2012 season, dropped the Keydets to 7-7.

McPherson's perfect night at the plate led the way for the Dukes' offense, which struck for multiple runs in three separate innings. The evening marked McPherson's second career four-hit performance and the first of his sophomore campaign, raising his batting average to .318, second-highest of the starting lineup.

After early damage off freshman starter Jon Fisher, four JMU relievers combined to yield just six hits and two walks across the final 7 1/3 innings, as Mark Gunst, Eric Yankey, Christian Leckert and Ben Garner quieted the VMI bats. The foursome struck out seven, highlighted by five in 2 2/3 innings from Leckert, as Yankey (1-0) picked up the win and Garner earned his second four-out save of the season.

Junior catcher Zach Tondi continued his solid stretch of hitting with a 2-for-5 evening that included a double and two RBIs, marking his second multi-hit game in a row, while sophomore right fielder Adam Sisk and junior first baseman Brett Johnson each homered for the Dukes.

The Dukes jumped on top out of the gate, scoring four runs on three doubles and two walks in the top of the first inning, but VMI immediately responded with six runs in the bottom half of the frame and another in the bottom of the second to put JMU in a 7-4 hole.

In the top of the third, however, Sisk levelled things on one swing, hammering a 2-0 fastball over the scoreboard in left-center to plate McPherson and Johnson and make it 7-7.

The Dukes would break things open in the sixth with four runs on four hits. After sophomore third baseman Tanner Dofflemyer singled and senior shortstop Chad Carroll drew a walk, junior left fielder Ky Parrott ripped a 3-1 pitch into right field to plate both of them. Johnson would immediately follow him by lashing an 0-2 breaking ball over the left field wall to give the Dukes an 11-7 lead and put the contest out of reach.

Senior third baseman David Geary went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI for VMI, while sophomore catcher Peyton Maddox added a 3-for-5 effort that included a homer and a double.

QUOTING COACH IKENBERRY
"I was very proud of our offense today, not just to put up a big inning in the first, but to keep scoring after we gave up a big inning. Our bullpen really did an outstanding job to give us a chance to win it. We had a lot guys have big at-bats tonight in Adam Sisk, Ky Parrott, Brett Johnson and Zach Tondi, and it was great to see Kyle McPherson have such a great day and really set the tone for our offense."

LOTS O' POWER
After Tuesday's action, the Dukes have four players who have started all 12 games and are currently slugging over .500 so far. Sophomore left fielder Adam Sisk leads the way at .587, while senior shortstop Chad Carroll (.560), junior first baseman Brett Johnson (.526) and sophomore second baseman Kyle McPherson (.523) all joining him.

HOMECOMING OF SORTS
Head Coach Marlin Ikenberry was victorious in his first game back at VMI after coaching the Keydets from 2004-2014. Ikenberry racked up 282 wins in Lexington, departing as the winningest head coach in program history.

UP NEXT
The Dukes are back in action on Wednesday, March 9, when they continue their five-game road trip with a 6 p.m. bout at Davidson. The Wildcats will enter the contest at 6-5 this season after taking two of three from Lafayette College this past weekend.