Early Surge Downs Dukes in Series Finale Against Elon

Sunday, May 1

Harrisonburg, Va.

2 p.m.

James Madison University

18-26, 8-10

Elon

22-23, 12-8

Elon

James Madison

5/1/2016 7:52:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va. - James Madison could not bounce back from Elon's six-run first inning on Sunday afternoon, dropping a 12-4 decision to the Phoenix in the final game of a three-game Colonial Athletic Association series at Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park.

The Dukes (18-25, 8-10 CAA) racked up 10 hits on the day, their sixth double-digit effort in the last seven games, but Elon used 17 hits, including five for extra bases, to claim the series and improve to 22-23 (12-8 CAA) on the season.

Junior left fielder Ky Parrott went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a walk on the afternoon, leading the way for the JMU offense and raising his batting average to a season-best .325, third-highest on the team. Parrott also scored three of JMU's four runs on the afternoon and drew his 47th walk of the season.

Senior third baseman Kyle Weston singled three times for the Dukes, while senior shortstop Chad Carroll and sophomore second baseman Kyle McPherson each drove in a run on 1-for-4 afternoons.

Elon shortstop Ryne Ogren went 3-for-5 to pace the Phoenix, scoring a pair of runs and driving in a game-high five, including a two-run homer in the top of the third inning. First baseman Tyler McVicar and catcher Austin Leeney added three hits each, while third baseman Danny Lynch launched a three-run shot with just one out in the first inning.

The Phoenix scored in five different innings to keep constant pressure on JMU after plating six in the first on five singles and Lynch's long ball. The Dukes scored a run each in the first, third, fifth and ninth innings, but could not sustain the offense long enough to cut into Elon's lead.

Junior right-hander Brandon Withers took the loss to fall to 2-6 on the season, while Elon starter Mason Daniels scattered seven hits across six innings to improve to 4-3 before handing things off to the bullpen. Junior lefty Michael Evans was sterling in relief for the Dukes, yielding just a pair of unearned runs and four hits across four complete innings.

QUOTING COACH IKENBERRY
"We had a tough day today, but it's always tough being down six before you come to the plate. I thought we had several opportunities to score runs, but we just couldn't quite get the big hit when we needed it. Michael Evans did a nice job in relief, but we'll learn from this weekend and then take a much-needed week to heal, rest and get ready for this stretch run."

BETTER KNOW A STRIKE ZONE
Junior left fielder Ky Parrott drew his 47th walk of the season on Sunday afternoon, moving him into fifth place on the JMU single-season leaderboard. Kellen Kulbacki currently holds the JMU record with 56 walks during the 2007 campaign.

Parrott has drawn 13 walks and gone 9-for-20 over the last seven contests, good for a .686 on-base percentage across that stretch. The Herndon, Va. native also ranks inside the top 10 nationally for walks.

UP NEXT
The Dukes are off this week, but will kick off their final two weeks of the regular season with a March 10 matchup against Richmond at Eagle Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.