Dukes Clinch CAA Tournament Berth With Sweep at Hofstra

Friday, May 20

Hempstead, N.Y.

12 p.m.

James Madison University

22-29, 12-11

Hofstra

15-36, 5-17

James Madison

Hofstra

5/20/2016 7:23:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - James Madison clinched a berth in next week's 2016 Colonial Athletic Association Baseball Championship on Friday afternoon as the Dukes took both ends of a doubleheader, besting Hofstra 9-1 and 6-0 to close out the regular season at University Field.

The Dukes racked up 28 hits across the twinbill, improving to 23-29 (13-11 CAA) and finishing the regular season with their first winning record in league play since the 2011 campaign, which saw JMU win its second CAA title. Hofstra dropped to 15-36 (5-17 CAA) with the losses.

Game One
Sophomores Kyle McPherson and Mike Sciorra each racked up three hits to pace the Dukes' offense in the opener, as JMU tied its season high with 17 hits.

Sophomore third baseman Bradley McKay also hit his first career home run, launching an 0-1 pitch over the left-field wall in the seventh inning to lead four other Dukes with two hits each. All nine starters for JMU notched at least one hit.

Junior Brandon Withers turned in one of his best outings of the season for JMU, scattering three hits across six innings and striking out two to earn his third win of the year. Junior Michael Evans picked up his fourth save of the year, yielding just two baserunners and striking out five across the final three frames.

JMU kept up consistent pressure after taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, plating runs in five consecutive frames from the fourth to the eighth. Hofstra picked up a solo homer in the fifth to cut the deficit to 4-1, but the Dukes immediately responded with two runs in both the sixth and seventh innings, before an RBI single from senior Kyle Weston in the eighth capped things at 9-1.

No Hofstra player picked up more than one hit in the contest, as starter John Rooney fell to 3-8 after yielding four runs across 4 2/3 innings.

Game Two
Senior catcher Bobby San Martin notched his first multi-hit game of the season in the nightcap, pacing the Dukes with a 3-for-4 day that saw him drive in a run and score another. Junior left fielder Ky Parrott tacked on two hits of his own, while McKay went deep for the second time, driving another two-run shot over the left-field wall in the seventh.

In his last regular season start, sophomore left-hander Colton Harlow turned in his best outing to date, scattering two singles and a double across eight dominant innings that saw him strike out seven and walk just one. Harlow did not allow a runner past second base as he earned his third win of the year.

Senior Ben Garner threw the ninth for JMU, striking out one as he worked a perfect inning to secure the sweep for the Dukes. Hofstra starter Bowie Matteson fell to 3-7 despite a solid start that saw him throw seven innings, surrendering five runs, with three coming in his final frame.

QUOTING COACH IKENBERRY
"I'm so proud of the way these guys have battled all year and how they played great baseball today when we needed it most. We were consistent offensively today, top-to-bottom, and it was great to see Bradley McKay pick up the first two homers of his career. You also can't say enough about our pitchers; Brandon Withers, Colton Harlow, Michael Evans and Ben Garner gave us superb outings on the mound. We're very excited to make it to the CAA Tournament."

RECORD BREAKER
Junior Ky Parrott did not waste any time in his march to the top of JMU's record books, walking in his first two plate appearances on Friday to notch his 56th and 57th of the season, setting a JMU single-season record for walks. Kellen Kulbacki set the previous program record of 56 during the 2007 season, when he garnered First Team All-American honors.

UP NEXT
With their regular season over, the Dukes are guaranteed either the fourth or fifth seed in the CAA Tournament and the accompanying spot in the opening game at 12 p.m. on Wednesday, May 25. JMU will face Northeastern, which takes on Towson in its regular-season finale at 12 p.m. on Saturday, May 21. If the Huskies win, Northeastern will be the fourth seed, whereas the Dukes will claim the fourth seed and will be the home team if Towson triumphs.

The Dukes won two of three against Northeastern in Harrisonburg on March 25-27. JMU captured respective wins of 7-6 (19 innings) and 6-4, on Friday and Saturday, before dropping Sunday's contest. The three-game set was the first league series of the season for the Dukes.