Jones Leads Dukes Past UMass Lowell

Saturday, March 17

Harrisonburg, Va.

6:30 p.m.

James Madison University

12-7

UMass Lowell

6-10

UMass Lowell

James Madison

3/18/2018 12:15:00 AM | Baseball

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HARRISONBURG, Va. – Freshman Josh Jones hit a walk-off RBI double down the right field line to lift James Madison over UMass Lowell, 6-5 in non-conference baseball action at Eagle Field on Saturday night.

Saturday's win marked the second time in as many games that the Dukes (12-7) were able to edge the River Hawks (6-10) by one run to earn the victory.

On the night, Jones went 2-for-5 five with the game winning RBI. Fellow freshman Conor Hartigan turned in a stellar night at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored.

Sophomore Shelton Perkins earned his first career win (1-0), tossing a career-high three innings with striking out a career-high four batters, all consecutive including striking out the side in the seventh inning to get out of a bases loaded jam.

JMU stormed out to a 2-0 lead after two innings from a RBI double from freshman Michael Morgan and a defensive fielding error by the River Hawks. UMass Lowell took a 4-2 lead after three consecutive hits in the third inning.

The River Hawks scored their final run of the game in the fifth inning to increase their lead, 5-2 before the Dukes scored four runs in the final three innings, to pull off their second come-from-behind victory over UMass Lowell, clinching the series with the 5-4 win.

QUOTING COACH IKE
"Getting a lead early was good for our guys but giving it up in the third with two outs was demoralizing. I was really proud our guys for fighting and getting on base and putting up four runs late in the last three innings to get the win. Really proud of Jones hitting the walk off, which is awesome for a freshman getting his first career walk off. When Michael Bechtold and Shelton Perkins coming out of the bullpen, that really set the tone for us late in the game especially when Perkins got out of the bases loaded jam."

UP NEXT
The Dukes will play the series finale on Sunday at Eagle Field. First pitch is slated for 2:30 p.m.