JMU Bats Get Hot in Eighth to Even Series with Winthrop

Saturday, March 19

Rock Hill, S.C.

2 p.m.

James Madison University

10-9

Winthrop

5-12

James Madison

Winthrop

3/19/2022 4:55:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

ROCK HILL, S.C. – The James Madison baseball bats got hot in the eighth inning, breaking a one-all tie with six runs to take down Winthrop, 7-1, on Saturday afternoon and even the series at The Winthrop Ballpark.

The Dukes move to 10-9, as the Eagles fall to 5-12.

Redshirt senior Liam McDonnell started for the Dukes and went five innings and struck out four. Redshirt junior Eli Ottinger earned the win in four innings of relief. Leading the Dukes at the plate was redshirt sophomore Chase DeLauter, who went 2-for-4 with a grand slam and four RBI's.

How It Happened
Much like the series opener, the teams were in a stalemate for the first few innings. The Dukes struck first in the third inning on a single by redshirt junior Kyle Novak that scored DeLauter. Winthrop then answered by leading off the bottom of the inning with a home run to tie it at 1-1.

The Dukes had multiple chances to retake the lead, putting the leadoff batter on in the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seven innings, but the Eagles found ways to retire the side.

The Dukes then found a breakthrough in the eighth inning, as Novak led off with a single. Redshirt sophomore Mason Dunaway then bunted Novak to second, where he then moved to third on a Carson Bell infield single. Freshman Fenwick Trimble then broke the tie, scoring Novak for a 2-1 lead on a bunt single. Two batters later redshirt junior Nick Zona added another run on a single to center field.

The inning was capped off by DeLauter, who came up to the plate after redshirt junior Trevon Dabney singled to load the bases. DeLauter took the second pitch he saw over the right field wall to give JMU a 7-1 lead that they would hold on to take the ball game.

Game Notes

Chase DeLauter's grand slam was his second of the season, becoming the 12^th player in program history to hit two in a single season. Trevon Dabney has also hit two grand slams this season.
With DeLauter's grand slam, the Dukes now have five on the season and have set a new program single season record.
The Dukes put the leadoff batter on in the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth innings.
Five Dukes recorded multiple hits. Kyle Novak and Nick Zona both had three hits, while Dabney, DeLauter, and Fenwick Trimble all had two.
Eli Ottinger's four innings of work set a career-high.

Up Next
The Dukes and Winthrop are set to meet in the rubber match of the series on Sunday, March 20 at The Winthrop Ballpark. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.