Early Runs Sink Dukes at Elon

Friday, March 31

Elon, NC

6 p.m.

James Madison University

16-8, 2-2

Elon

13-13, 3-1

James Madison

Elon

3/31/2017 10:27:00 PM | Baseball

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ELON, N.C. – Five runs in the first two innings were the difference in a 7-1 loss to Elon by James Madison in the first game of a Colonial Athletic Association contest at Latham Park on Friday night.

The Dukes dropped their third game in a row to fall to 16-8 on the season and 2-2 in CAA play. The Phoenix improved to 13-13 and 3-1 in the league.

Junior catcher Ryan Coale scored the lone JMU run of the night, notching a pinch-hit single, advancing to second on a wild pitch and scoring on Ky Parrott's RBI single.

Elon exploded for four runs in the first inning on four hits, including a two-run double by Kyle Jackson and a two-run triple by Will Nance. James Venuto added an insurance run in the second inning to make the score 5-0.

The Dukes collected six hits and five walks, but stranded nine runners on base for the second game in a row. Adam Sisk, Brett Johnson, Zach Tondi and Fox Semones were the other Dukes with base hits.

Redshirt senior right-handed pitcher Brandon Withers took his first loss of the season to fall to 5-1. Elon's Ryan Conroy threw five scoreless innings to earn the win and improve to 4-1. George Kirby picked up his second save of the year for the Phoenix.

Freshman right-handed pitcher Cam Vassar threw one and one third scoreless innings to close the game for JMU.

QUOTING COACH IKENBERRY
"Credit to Elon, they pitched us really well tonight. To get wins in a tough conference like the CAA you have to be execute on offense, and we need to be mentally tough to turn this series around."

UP NEXT
The Dukes play the second game of the series against Elon on Saturday, April 1 with first pitch slated for 1:30 p.m.