Dukes Rebound from Weekend with Win Over VMI

Tuesday, March 7

Harrisonburg, Va.

3 p.m.

James Madison University

7-5

VMI

9-5

VMI

James Madison

3/7/2023 7:20:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison baseball rebounded from a two-game skid over the weekend by taking down VMI, 9-4, at Veterans Memorial Park in non-conference action on Tuesday afternoon.

The Dukes move to 7-5 while the Keydets have their four-game winning streak snapped and fall to 9-5.

Graduate Jack Cone earned his second win of the season behind five innings, striking out four while giving up four runs (two earned). Redshirt senior Kyle Novak was the leader at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a walk and three RBI's. Freshman Ryan Ertlschweiger made his collegiate debut by pitching three perfect innings with three strikeouts.

How It Happened
First Inning
Sophomore Fenwick Trimble continued his tear to the start of the season, giving the Dukes the first lead of the game on a solo shot. The homer is his fifth of the season, all hit in the past eight games.

Second Inning
VMI responded with a pair of runs in the top half of the inning to take the lead. After a walk, an error, and a fielder's choice put two on for the Keydets, they used another fielder's choice to tie the game and then followed it with a single for the 2-1 lead.

The Dukes retook the lead fairly quickly, using the first three batters to do so. After graduate Jaylon Lee led off by being hit by a pitch and then stealing second, sophomore Coleman Calabrese tripled him in and then scored himself the next at bat on freshman Mike Mancini's single. Novak plated two more runs later in the inning to give JMU a 5-2 lead.

Third Inning
Another quick response was made by the Keydets, making it a one-run ball game. An RBI single brought it within two before an attempted double steal of second base and home allowed another run to score to make it 5-4.

Fourth Inning
A bases loaded fielder's choice off the bat of Jacob Steinberg gave the Dukes a small cushion, increasing the lead to two.

Fifth Inning
The Dukes were able to break the game open with three runs in the fifth as they combined for three doubles. After a one-out double from Mancini, sophomore Jason Schiavone would double him in for a 7-4 lead. Two batters later, Trimble would knock in Schiavone on his own double and then come around to score on Novak's single the next at bat for the 9-4 lead.

Game Notes

The Dukes hit .414 (7-for-17) with runners in scoring position.
Six of the seven JMU wins this season have now seen the Dukes trail at some point in the contest.
With his third hit by pitch this season, Trevon Dabney moves one shy of tying the program's career record set by David Herbek (2008-11).
Jason Schiavone threw out two would be base stealers, making him 8-of-13 this season, as he came into the game tied for the Sun Belt Conference lead.

Up Next
The Dukes close out their 10-game homestand on Wednesday, March 7 when they host in-state foe VCU at Veterans Memorial Park. The game is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start and will be streamed on ESPN+.