Late Run Trips Dukes Against No. 21 Virginia

Wednesday, March 14

Charlottesville, Va.

4 p.m.

James Madison University

10-7

Virginia

11-6

James Madison

Virginia

3/14/2018 8:46:00 PM | Baseball

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning allowed No. 21 Virginia to slip past James Madison, 3-2 in non-conference baseball action at Disharoon Park on Wednesday evening.

Despite out hitting the Cavaliers (11-6) eight to seven, the Dukes (10-7) left eight runners on base with seven of the eight runners sitting in scoring position.

Sophomore Fox Semones and freshman Josh Jones both tallied their fifth two-hit game of the season as Semones went 2-for-4 while Jones went 2-for-3 on the evening. Senior Zach Tondi drove in both of the Dukes' runs, going 1-for-3 at the plate with a double and two RBI.

Sophomore Kevin Kelly received the start on the mound and delivered a career-high seven innings, striking out two batters while only giving up one run on five hits. Junior Matt Marsili took the loss on the night and moves to 1-1 on the season.

The Dukes tied the game at 1 in the sixth inning from a sacrifice fly to left field by Tondi before taking the 2-1 lead after the top half of the eighth off a double from Tondi, which scored senior Adam Sisk from first.

The Cavaliers evened the score at 2 in the bottom half of the eighth off a successful safety squeeze play. In the bottom of the ninth, the leadoff batter for Virginia was walked then saw himself on third after the next batter dropped a bunt and the Dukes committed a throwing error. Virginia walked off on a fly ball to center field with no throw made to the plate.

QUOTING COACH IKE
"I'm proud of how Kelly kept us in the ball game with seven innings pitched and only giving up one run. Tondi did a good job at the plate with hitting a sacrifice fly to tie the game early then driving in a run late with a double to give us the lead. We cannot expect to win games with leaving so many runners in scoring position on base, we have to capitalize in those situations especially against a good team like Virginia."

UP NEXT
James Madison will begin a seven-game home stand as it welcomes UMass Lowell for a three-game series this weekend at Eagle Field. The first game in the series is slated for Friday at 6:30 p.m.