Dukes Drop Series Finale at W&M in Ninth-Inning Walk Off

Sunday, April 23

Williamsburg, Va.

10 a.m.

James Madison University

William & Mary

Dukes Drop Series Finale at W&M in Ninth-Inning Walk Off

4/23/2017 3:05:00 PM | Baseball

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WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – James Madison took a 6-5 lead in the top of the ninth before William & Mary produced a two-run rally in the bottom half to sweep the Colonial Athletic Association baseball series with a 7-6 decision on Sunday afternoon at Plumeri Park.

The Tribe improved to 22-20 overall and 7-5 in CAA play while the Dukes fell to 18-21 and 3-12.

JMU leads at three different points in the game, which included a 5-2 lead in the fifth, but the Tribe got a run back in their turn at-bat in the fifth and scored twice in the seventh on wild pitches to tie the game at 5-5.

The Dukes loaded the bases in the ninth, and redshirt junior catcher Zach Tondi delivered with a RBI single through the right side to plate junior shortstop Kyle McPherson from third. In the bottom half, the Tribe tied the game on an error at short, and with two away and the bases loaded, Patrick Ryan singled in the winning run, giving the Tribe the sweep.

Five Dukes recorded multi-hit games, as freshman designated hitter Fox Semones was 2-for-4 with his third home run of the season – a 3-run shot in the fourth inning. McPherson was 2-for-5 with a pair of runs scored, and freshman second baseman Matt Dipasupil provided a 2-for-4 day with one RBI and one run.

Junior pitcher Josh Silvestri didn't earn the decision in the starting role, going a career-long 6.1 innings, allowing five runs (three earned) and nine hits while striking out seven, which matched his career best. Sophomore Matt Marsili (0-4) took the loss in relief after allowing two runs (one earned) and three hits in his 2.0 innings of action.

William & Mary's one, two and four hitters combined for nine of the team's 13 hits, led by Cullen Large's 5-for-5 day, which included three runs and one RBI. Owen Socher scored twice and Ryder Miconi, who was 2-for-4 with two RBIs, scored the game-winning run.

PLAY OF THE GAME

T4 | Semones gives JMU its largest lead of the day with his 3rd HR of the season! #GoDukes pic.twitter.com/I0hg7Gb29o
— JMU Baseball (@JMUBaseball) April 23, 2017

Semones hits a three-run homer in the fourth to give JMU the lead.

TWO-OUT RALLIES AIDED JMU OFFENSE
Of JMU's six runs in Sunday's series finale, four came with two outs, which allowed the Dukes to grab a 5-2 lead in the fifth. Fox Semones' three-run homer came with two outs in the fourth and Matt Dipasupil's RBI single in the fifth also came with two away.

DUKES IN ONE-RUN GAMES
JMU played a pair one-run games this weekend, falling on a pair of walk-offs at William & Mary. The Dukes have played in quite a few tight contests and had won six of eight one-run outings this year until the past two results.

UP NEXT
JMU returns home Tuesday, April 25 when it hosts Maryland. The game is set for a 6 p.m. start at Veterans Memorial Park and will be streamed live on MadiZONE HD SportsNet.