Dukes Open CAA Play with 12-8 Win Over Delaware

Friday, March 24

Harrisonburg, Va.

6 p.m.

James Madison University

15-5, 0

Delaware

11-8, 0

Delaware

James Madison

3/24/2017 10:56:00 PM | Baseball

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HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison baseball opened Colonial Athletic Association play with a 12-8 win over Delaware at Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park on Friday night.

The Dukes racked up 14 hits, including multi-hit nights from four players, to improve to 15-5 on the season and start the CAA slate 1-0. The Blue Hens dropped to 11-8 on the year and 0-1 in league play.

Junior third baseman Bradley McKay had two big hits with runners in scoring position to lead JMU with five RBIs. With the bases loaded and the game tied in the fifth inning, he dropped a single into right field to score two runs and put the Dukes up 8-6, a lead they would maintain the rest of the game. McKay also capped off a six-run first inning with a three-run homer to left, his second of the season.

Redshirt senior right-handed pitcher Brandon Withers (5-0) earned his fifth win of the year by battling through five innings with three strikeouts and allowing six runs. Delaware's Brandon Walter (2-4) took the loss after allowing nine runs in four and one third innings.

Freshman right-handed pitcher Kevin Kelly earned his first career save by throwing the final four innings of the win. Kelly was dominant out of the bullpen, striking out seven batters without a walk. Both runs that he allowed came in the ninth inning of the longest outing of his career.

PHOTO OF THE GAME
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The bench celebrates one of the Dukes' 12 runs against Delaware on March 24. View the full gallery here.

TOP DOGS
McKay was joined by three teammates with multiple hits. Junior outfielder Adam Sisk went 3-for-5 with two runs, two stolen bases and an RBI. Redshirt junior catcher Zach Tondi collected two hits, two RBIs and a run scored, while reigning CAA Rookie of the Week Fox Semones stayed hot with a 3-for-5 day that included a double, an RBI and two runs.

QUOTING COACH IKENBERRY
"I think our guys came out with a lot of energy tonight, putting six runs up in the first inning on one of the best pitchers in the league, I was excited about that. Give credit to them, they came back and put up four runs on Brandon and we had to take him out after five innings. I was the proud of how our offense played all night and how Kevin Kelly came in and shut the door for us."

UP NEXT
JMU and Delaware play the second game of the weekend series on Saturday, March 25 with first pitch set for 4 p.m.