Dominant Pitching Gives Dukes Fifth Straight Win

Sunday, February 26

Spartanburg, S.C.

1 p.m.

James Madison University

6-1

USC Upstate

3-4

James Madison

USC Upstate

2/26/2017 5:11:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score @JMUBaseball JMU Baseball on Facebook

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Dominant pitching earned James Madison baseball a 2-1 win over USC Upstate at Cleveland S. Harley Baseball Park on Sunday afternoon, its fifth consecutive victory.

This is the first five-game win streak for the Dukes, who improved to 6-1 on the season, since March 1-9, 2015 when JMU followed up a win over Quinnipiac with a four-game sweep of Canisius. The Spartans fell to 3-4 on the year.

Junior right-handed pitcher Josh Silvestri (1-0) earned his first win as a Duke after throwing five and one third innings and allowing just one run on four hits. The transfer from Harford Community College struck out three batters.

Freshman right-handed pitcher Kevin Kelly was crucial out of the bullpen, tossing two and two thirds scoreless innings and striking out five batters. Sunday was Kelly's third consecutive appearance without allowing a run. Senior left-handed pitcher Michael Evans recorded his second save of the season by retiring the Spartans in order in the ninth. His 11 career saves are fourth-best all-time at JMU.

Junior third baseman Bradley McKay led the JMU offense by going 2-for-3 with two runs scored. McKay led off the third inning by doubling down the left field line. After a sacrifice bunt by junior catcher Ryan Coale, senior left fielder Ky Parrott singled to right to bring McKay home for a 1-0 lead. A trio of singles by McKay, junior center fielder Mike Sciorra and junior shortstop Kyle McPherson plated McKay in the fifth to double the Dukes lead.

Kevin Hickey took the loss for USC Upstate, falling to 1-1 on the year. The Spartans got their lone run through a Charlie Carpenter RBI single.

STINGY PITCHING
The four hits allowed by the JMU staff on Sunday were the fewest this season, and the lowest total since allowing just three hits in a 6-0 win over Hofstra on May 20, 2016.

QUOTING COACH IKENBERRY
"Josh Silvestri did a great job getting us deep into the game today. We had two big two-out hits early from Ky Parrott and Kyle McPherson to give us a lead, but pitching and defense won us that game. I was proud of Kevin Kelly and Michael Evans coming out of the bullpen and getting the job done!"

UP NEXT
The Dukes play their first home game of the season on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 3 p.m. against in-state rival Richmond. There will be free admission at all regular season home games at Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park this season.