DeLauter Extends Streaks as Dukes Drop Season Finale

Friday, May 21

Harrisonburg, Va.

6 p.m.

James Madison University

11-17

VCU

34-14

VCU

James Madison

5/21/2021 9:49:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Two-way player Chase DeLauter extended his hit streak to 16 games and reached base for the 24^th consecutive game as James Madison (11-17) fell in the season finale to VCU (34-14) on Friday evening at Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park.

Liam McDonnell started for the Dukes and went a career-high six innings on the mound, striking out three and allowing three earned runs. Carson Bell led the Dukes at the plate by going 2-for-4.

HOW IT HAPPENED

In a vast contrast to the meeting between the two teams a night prior, the first four innings were a pitching duel between the two teams. VCU got on the board first, scoring a run in the first after the first two batters singled and Steven Carpenter scored when Tyler Locklear was caught trying to steal second.

McDonnell would settle down and retire nine of the next 12 batters to allow JMU to stay within range and tie the game in the fourth. Kyle Novak singled with one out and then advanced to third the next at bat as Bell laced a single up the middle. Michael Morgan then stepped in the box and placed a perfect bunt to move Bell to second and score Novak to make it 1-1.

VCU then took the lead back the next inning, scoring three in the fifth to lead 4-1. The Rams then added a run in the seventh and five in the ninth to lead 10-1 entering the bottom of the ninth. DeLauter led off the ninth with a single up the middle to give him 16 straight games of registering a hit, tying teammate Conor Hartigan for the longest of the season on the team. He has the second longest active streak in the Colonial Athletic Association of reaching base at 24 consecutive, two behind Elon's Alex Iadisernia. The hit couldn't translate to much though, as VCU got three outs and took the game 10-1.

UP NEXT

With the CAA regular season coming to an end tomorrow, the Dukes look to have their name called as one of the two at-large bids for the conference tournament next week.