Career Day at the Plate for DeLauter Leads Dukes to Win Over VMI

Thursday, March 11

Harrisonburg, Va.

3 p.m.

James Madison University

2-5

VMI

2-7

VMI

James Madison

Career Day at the Plate for DeLauter Leads Dukes to Win Over VMI

3/11/2021 7:51:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Redshirt freshman Chase DeLauter had a career-high four RBI's and tied a career-high with three hits to lead the Dukes (2-5) over VMI, 9-5, on Thursday afternoon at Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park.

Lefty Liam McDonnell started for JMU and went a career-high tying four and two-thirds innings, scattering five hits and striking out four. Redshirt freshman Donovan Burke picked up his first career win behind three and a third innings and redshirt sophomore Lliam Grubbs picked up the save.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Dukes got out to an early 1-0 lead on a fielding error that allowed Conor Hartigan to score from second in the first inning. VMI (2-7) responded back with their own run in the top of the second on an RBI triple after a leadoff walk. JMU didn't waver, as they answered with two of their own runs on a fielder's choice and an RBI sacrifice bunt to lead 3-1 after two.

The Keydets would tie the game again in the fifth, scoring on an RBI single and putting the tying run on the board on a sacrifice fly the next batter after a wild pitch put a runner on third base. Burke would come in with two outs and end the inning by picking off the runner at first. He went on to keep the Keydets from scoring across the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings.

The Dukes would retake the lead in the sixth, scoring six unanswered runs over the next three innings which was capped off by DeLauter's two-run blast to left field to make it a 9-3 game. VMI wouldn't go down easy, putting two runs on the board to make it 9-5 in the top of the ninth and bringing the tying run onto the on-deck circle. After a pitching change to begin the inning, the bullpen called upon Grubbs to end the game with JMU on top 9-5.

MILESTONE INCOMING
The win was head coach Marlin Ikenberry's 399^th career win, moving him one away from 400 in a career.

GAME NOTES

This is the third time this season Burke has tied or set a career-high in strikeouts.
The Dukes' lead off batters hit .500 (4-for-8).
DeLauter led off the game for the Dukes by getting on base for the fourth consecutive game.
Two of Fox Semones' three hits were bunt singles.

UP NEXT
The Dukes have a day off and then travel to Lexington, Va. as VMI hosts JMU for two games on Saturday and Sunday, March 13-14. The first game will begin at 2:00 p.m.