Kelly’s Hot Start Shuts Down Lafayette

Friday, February 22

Harrisonburg, Va.

3 p.m.

James Madison University

5-0

Lafayette

0-4

Lafayette Leopards

James Madison

2/22/2019 7:47:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Dukes defeat Lafayette 5-3 to improve to 5-0 on the season

HARRISONBURG, VA. – James Madison increased the longest active Division I baseball win streak dating back to last season to 10 by defeating the Lafayette Leopards in a 5-3 decision at Veterans Memorial Park. Kevin Kelly earned his second victory of the season. Kelly finished the night with seven strikeouts and allowed only four hits before giving way to Shelton Perkins and Matt Marsili. The JMU bullpen prevented a hit for the final three innings, and Nick Robertson picked up his second save of the season, striking out three of the four batters he faced in the ninth.

JMU is back in action Sunday when it hosts Lafayette for the remaining two games of the series. First pitch is set for noon, and the second game starts 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first. The second game was originally scheduled for Saturday, but moves with the treat of rainy weather and cold temperatures.

GAME FACTS
- The Dukes increase the longest active winning streak in Division I to 10 with the victory over Lafayette.
- Kevin Kelly finished the evening with 6.0 innings pitched, four hits, and seven strikeouts. Kelly improved to 2-0 on the season with the 5-3 decision.
- Nick Robertson collected his second save of the season, striking out three of the four batters he faced in the final frame.
- JMU added 14 strikeouts in the first game of the series and have increased their season total to 65.
- The Dukes continue to be perfect in February winning five straight to open the season. The start is the best five games to start a season since the 1994 year when the Dukes went 5-0 to open up the year.

SCORING SUMMARY
Bottom 3^rd| JMU 3 – LAF 0 | JMU tacked on three runs in the bottom half of the third, with Zona singling and advancing to second on an error. He would later score on a passed ball and Michael Morgan would ground out to short to score Fox Semones.
Top 5^th| JMU 3 – LAF 2 | Lafayette added two runs in the top half of the fifth inning to cut the Dukes lead to 3-2.
Bottom 7^th| JMU 5 – LAF 2 | DaVonn Griffin singles up the middle scoring Trevon Dabney. Moments later Nick Zona grounded into a double play and Dallas Jackson was able to come home and increase the lead to 5-2.
Top 9^th| JMU 5 – LAF 3 | Lafayette threatened late in the ballgame when an error by Brady Harju allowed Landry to score from third.

WHAT COACH IKE HAD TO SAY
"I thought Kevin pitched really well today. He picked up right where he left off last Friday and our offense was able to produce runs to get him the win. Tre was able to continue his hit streak today and score a run for us as well. I thought our bullpen was solid only allowing no hits in the final three innings. We will look to continue this momentum Sunday and stay loose tomorrow with the rain coming through the area."

UP NEXT
The Dukes will continue their weekend series against Lafayette Sunday due to weather in the area. Game two of the series will begin at noon.