Dukes Fall in Doubleheader at Presbyterian

Saturday, April 30

Clinton, S.C.

2 p.m.

James Madison University

23-19

Presbyterian

20-21

James Madison

Presbyterian College

4/30/2022 7:32:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

CLINTON, S.C. – James Madison baseball fell in both games of a doubleheader at Presbyterian, 5-2 and 3-1, on Saturday afternoon at the PC Baseball Complex.

The Dukes fall to 23-20 while Presbyterian moves to 21-21.

Graduate student Justin Showalter started game one and went 6.2 innings with six strikeouts, as he gave up five runs with four earned. Redshirt senior Liam McDonnell was the starter for game two, setting career-highs with 6.1 innings and eight strikeouts.

Game One
Presbyterian got on the board first in the second inning, as a two-run home run was launched the at bat after a fielding error to give the Blue Hose a 2-0 lead. Showalter settled down and got into a groove, retiring the next 14 batters. One of those batters singled, but Showalter picked off the runner at first to retire the Blue Hose in order in the third inning.

The Dukes were able to get on the board in the seventh, as back-to-back singles from freshman Fenwick Trimble and redshirt junior Carson Bell put runners on the corners. Redshirt sophomore Mason Dunaway then reaching on a fielding error to score Trimble and make it 2-1. Presbyterian responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning to extend their lead to 5-1.

Redshirt junior Trevon Dabney led off the eighth inning with a triple and scored two batters later on classmate Travis Reifsnider's single to get a run back at 5-2. It wasn't enough though, as the Blue Hose held on for the win. Charlie McDaniel picked up the victory behind six shutout innings and Clark Dearman tossed three innings of relief for the save.

Game Two
The Blue Hose were able to score first again, putting up a run in the first inning. After allowing the run, McDonnell did not allow a Presbyterian runner to get past second base until the seventh inning. During that stretch, he struck out multiple hitters in three consecutive innings to put him at a career-high eight strikeouts.

Presbyterian got to McDonnell in the seventh though, tagging him for a second run and then scoring another run off of redshirt junior Eli Ottinger for a 3-0 lead.

Redshirt freshman Grant Painter was the lone spark of the JMU offense throughout the game, going 3-for-3 with a walk in his first career start. The Dukes were able to get a run on the board in the ninth, as Dabney knocked in freshman Bryce Suters on a sacrifice fly to make it a 3-1 game. The lone run wasn't enough, as the Blue Hose held on for the win. Duncan Howard tossed seven innings to earn his seventh win of the season.

Up Next
The two team square off for the series finale on Sunday, May 1 at 11 a.m. at the PC Baseball Complex.