Dukes Win Twin Bill, Complete Sweep Against Towson

Saturday, May 19

Towson, Md.

Noon

James Madison University

25-26, 10-13

Towson

13-41, 6-17

James Madison

Towson

5/19/2018 8:07:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 @JMUBaseball

TOWSON, Md. – Senior Zach Tondi went 5-for-8 with eight RBIs and two runs scored in the doubleheader against Towson, helping James Madison defeat the Tigers 12-3 in game one and 11-6 in game two in Colonial Athletic Association baseball action on Saturday evening.

The Dukes (26-26, 11-13 CAA) swept its third opponent of the season (High Point and William & Mary) and ended with its best overall record since the 2011 season where JMU went 42-19.

GAME ONE
James Madison's bats exploded for the fourth consecutive game of racking up 10 or more hits (14) in the 12-3 victory to begin the doubleheader.

In the seven-inning first game, sophomore Kevin Kelly earned his third win of the season (3-3) on the mound after tossing six innings, giving up three runs and six hits with six strikeouts. Kelly finishes the year with a team-high 75 strikeouts.

Tondi had an outstanding game at the plate as he went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and a season-high four RBIs. Senior Ryan Coale also turned in a three-hit performance with a RBI while freshman Michael Morgan added a 2-for-3 outing with a season-high three runs scored, a RBI and two walks.

The Dukes jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning as Tondi hit a RBI single, then scored on a passed ball later in the frame. In the second, JMU added three more runs as one run scored off a grounder to second and Tondi drove home final two runs with a double to right center field.

Sophomore Fox Semones drove home a run in the fourth inning by hitting a RBI-single to right center field. Later in the frame Semones stole home on the double steal to increase the lead to 5-1. Additionally, senior Ryan Coale hit a RBI-double to give the Dukes a 6-1 lead after four innings.

The Dukes plated their final three runs in the seventh inning off a RBI-double from senior Adam Sisk, a RBI-single from Tondi and a RBI-double from freshman Josh Jones, leading to the final score 12-3.

GAME TWO
James Madison scored seven runs over the final two innings to come back and defeat Towson, 11-6 in its last game of the season.

Jones led the way for the Dukes at the plate with a 3-for-5 outing alongside a run scored and two RBIs. Tondi's hot bat continued to show in the second game as he turned in a 2-for-3 performance with four RBIs and a walk. Six other Dukes also tallied a hit in the contest.

Junior Dan Goggin received the win (5-3) after tossing 2/3 inning giving up one hit and picking up a strikeout. Senior Matt Colon earned his third save of the season, coming in the game in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded and one out and caught the first batter looking then induced a ground ball to third to secure the win.

For the third time in the series, JMU opened the scoring with a big inning as the Dukes scored four runs in the third. Morgan began the scoring for the Dukes with a RBI-single up the middle that drove home sophomore DaVonn Griffin. Tondi followed behind Morgan with a three-RBI double into left center field.

The Tigers plated a run in the fourth then scored four runs in the fifth inning, to take its first lead of the series, 5-4.

JMU answered in the eighth, as Tondi hit another RBI-single then senior Colton Harlow entered the game as a pinch runner and scored on a wild pitch before senior Tanner Dofflemyer hit a two-RBI double to center field to give the Dukes an 8-5 lead.

In the ninth, freshman Hunter Johnson hit a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Sisk from third and Jones knocked a two-RBI single to left center field to increase JMU's lead, 11-5. In the bottom of the ninth, Towson added a run off a bases-loaded walk, leading to the final score, 11-6.

QUOTING COACH IKE
In game one…
"We pitched and played great defense as well as had big offensive days by Tondi and Coale. Kelly did a great job getting us deep in the ball game and Ayer was perfect to finish."

In game two…
"Every senior got a chance to play. We did a great job of getting an early lead then Towson came back and took the lead. I was proud of how we fought back in the eighth to regain the lead. Tondi and Jones had big at bats late but the best one was Dofflemyer's double to extend the lead. Our bullpen guys did an amazing job in the game. Proud of how the guys competed this weekend!"