Walk-Off Three-Run Homer from Lee Gives Dukes Series Opener

Friday, April 21

Harrisonburg, Va.

6 p.m.

James Madison University

21-16, 6-8

Louisiana

26-13, 10-6

Louisiana

James Madison

Walk-Off Three-Run Homer from Lee Gives Dukes Series Opener

4/21/2023 10:08:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. — Pinch hitting with two outs and two on in the bottom of the ninth, graduate Jaylon Lee gave James Madison baseball a series opening walk-off win over defending Sun Belt Conference champion Louisiana, 10-8, on Friday night at Veterans Memorial Park.

The Dukes snap a four-game skid and move to 21-16, 6-8 SBC while the Ragin' Cajuns fall to 26-13, 10-6 SBC.

Freshman Ryan Ertlschweiger started and went a career-high five-plus innings with a career-high six strikeouts. Redshirt junior Matt Kleinfelter earned the win to improve to 4-0 this season. Freshman Mike Mancini led at the plate with a 3-for-4 effort with a double and two runs scored.

How It Happened
First Inning
The Dukes struck first after graduate Jack Cone led off with a single and came around to score on a sacrifice bunt from redshirt senior Kyle Novak for a 1-0 lead.

Second Inning
After scoring the first run, Cone drove in the second run for the Dukes with a groundout to make it 2-0.

Third Inning
With two outs, redshirt senior Trevon Dabney made it 3-0 in favor of the hosts with a solo shot, his fourth homer of the season.

Fourth Inning
JMU scored a run for the fourth straight inning to begin the game, as Mancini doubled with one out. He then scored three batters later when redshirt junior Mason Dunaway singled up the middle.

Sixth Inning
Louisiana broke the ice for itself with three runs in the sixth to make it a one-run game. After the first two runners got on, a triple pushed the first two runs across. A sacrifice fly would plate the third run and make it 4-3.

In the home half of the inning, an RBI single from Dunaway to score Mancini would push the lead to two for the Dukes.

Seventh Inning
After getting within one in the prior inning, the Cajuns would knot the game at five on a two-run single after a double put runners in scoring position with one down.

Eighth Inning
With one down, Kyle DeBarge doubled into left center field before coming around to score on a single the next at bat to give Louisiana its first lead of the night at 6-5.

Sophomore Jason Schiavone spent little time allowing UL to have the lead, sending the first pitch to lead off the bottom of the eighth over left field for his sixth homer of the year. Two batters later, freshman Wyatt Peifer would reach on an infield single before scoring on a Cone triple to give the lead back to the Dukes at 7-6.

Ninth Inning
The air at Veterans Memorial Park was taken out on a two-run shot by Julian Brock in the top of the ninth that gave the Cajuns an 8-7 lead.

The air was restored in the bottom of the ninth after Novak led off with a walk and was joined on the base paths by Schiavone, who also drew a walk. Lee then stepped in off the bench and sent a 2-1 pitch no doubter over the left field wall for the Dukes' fourth walk-off win of the season and a 10-8 win.

Up Next
The Dukes meet the Cajuns for the middle game of the series on Saturday, April 22 at 6 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.