Big Day from Novak Leads Dukes to Series Win Over Cornell

Saturday, February 25

Harrisonburg, Va.

2:15 p.m.

James Madison University

3-3

Cornell

0-2

Cornell

James Madison

Big Day from Novak Leads Dukes to Series Win Over Cornell

2/25/2023 6:29:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Redshirt senior Kyle Novak tied a career-high with five RBI's to lead James Madison to a 9-2 victory on Saturday afternoon and a series win against Cornell at Veterans Memorial Park in non-conference baseball.

The Dukes have won three straight and even their record to 3-3, while the Big Red fall to 0-2.

In addition to the five RBI's, Novak went 2-for-2 with a home run and two walks. Redshirt junior Ryan Murphy started and went four innings to pick up the win, striking out two and scattering three hits while giving up two runs.

How It Happened
First Inning
It only took three batters for the Dukes to take the lead, as graduate Jack Cone and redshirt junior Mason Dunaway both drew walks and used a double steal to get into scoring position. Sophomore Fenwick Trimble then sent a ball off the wall in left field to score Cone for a 1-0 lead, but Dunaway was thrown out trying to make it two runs.

Second Inning
Cornell responded quickly, using a two-run homer off the bat of TJ Swidorski to lead 2-1. Ryan Porter also came around to score after getting on from a fielder's choice.

Third Inning
The Dukes retook the lead in the third and never looked back. Dunaway led off the inning with a walk and was joined on the base paths by redshirt senior Trevon Dabney off a hit by pitch. Novak then took a 2-2 pitch to right center for his first home run of the season and a 4-2 JMU lead.

Fourth inning
JMU added another three runs, beginning with back-to-back singles from sophomore Coleman Calabrese and Cone. Dunaway then doubled in Calabrese to extend the lead to 5-2. Two batters later, Dabney drew a walk to load the bases for Novak, who laced a single through the left side to score Cone and Dunaway for a 7-2 lead.

Sixth Inning
Dunaway, Dabney and Novak all drew walks to load the bases for the Dukes with two down for redshirt junior Jacob Steinberg. The Germantown, Md. Native then put the first pitch he saw into center field, scoring Dunaway and Dabney to extend the lead to 9-2.

Game Notes

Four of the nine JMU RBI's came with two outs.
Mason Dunaway drew three walks and tied a career-high with three runs scored.
Kyle Novak's five RBI's is the first five-RBI game since Chase DeLauter knocked in six at VMI last season.
As a team, JMU drew 10 walks.

Up Next
The Dukes and the Big Red look to close out the series on Sunday, Feb. 26 with a 1 p.m. first pitch at Veterans Memorial Park. The game will be audibly streamed on the Varsity App.