Dukes Slip Past Elon In Extras

Friday, March 23

Harrisonburg, Va.

2:00 p.m.

James Madison University

13-8, 1-0

Elon

11-11, 0-1

Elon

James Madison

3/23/2018 7:17:00 PM | Baseball

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HARRISONBURG, Va. – Freshman pinch runner Dallas Jackson scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the 10th inning to help James Madison secure a 4-3 win against Elon in the Colonial Athletic Association baseball opener for both teams on Friday at Eagle Field.

It is the third consecutive year that the Dukes (13-8, 1-0 CAA) started conference play with a win, while the Phoenix (11-11, 0-1 CAA) dropped their third consecutive conference opener.

Freshman Josh Jones extended his hitting streak to 10 games by producing a 2-for-4 outing at the plate with a run scored. Fellow freshman Conor Hartigan turned in his fifth two-hit game of the season with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate with an RBI.

On the mound, sophomore Shelton Perkins earned his second win (2-0) of the season, tying his career high with three innings pitched along with three strikeouts and giving up only one hit.

Elon gained a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning off a solo shot to right field. An error on a sacrifice bunt in the second inning allowed James Madison to quickly even the score at one apiece. A RBI groundout to shortstop and a RBI single through the left side of the field by Hartigan, gave JMU a 3-1 lead going into the sixth inning.

The Phoenix answered in the sixth inning by plating a run off a double and tied the game, 3-3 by scoring on a wild pitch.

In the tenth, senior Bradley McKay was hit by a pitch, then Hartigan followed with a single up the middle. Jackson entered to pinch run for McKay, soon after the freshman would find himself on third after a passed ball. Two pitches later, Jackson scored the winning run off a wild pitch above Elon's catcher's head to win the game, 4-3.

HIGHLIGHTS

QUOTING COACH IKE
"It wasn't pretty but I am glad our guys grinded out the win. Elon's starting pitcher did a really great job and Elon has a good pitching staff. It takes everybody to win and that is something we talk about. I can't be more proud of Perkins coming out of the bullpen and taking control like he did, and that was what we needed at that time in the ball game. Tremendous dirt ball read by Jackson at second in the bottom of the 10th, really putting pressure on Elon and then scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch."

UP NEXT
James Madison plays game two of the series against Elon on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at Eagle Field. MadiZONE HD SportsNet presents free online audio coverage.