Dukes Use Big Seventh Inning to Tie Highest Ranked Win in Program History

Sunday, February 18

Fayetteville, Ark.

2 p.m. ET (1 p.m. CT)

James Madison University

1-2

Arkansas

2-1

James Madison

Arkansas

Dukes Use Big Seventh Inning to Tie Highest Ranked Win in Program History

2/18/2024 5:57:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – With the game tied at two, James Madison baseball used a four-run seventh inning to take the lead over No. 3 Arkansas and never looked back en route to a 7-3 win on Sunday afternoon at Baum-Walker Stadium to tie for the highest ranked win in program history.

The Dukes improved to 1-2 while the Razorbacks dropped to 2-1. The win is the first ranked win for JMU since taking down No. 11 Coastal Carolina in 2017 and the first top 10 win since taking down No. 3 Virginia in 14 innings in 2007. The win against Virginia was previously the highest ranked win in program history.

JMU had not defeated an SEC opponent since defeating Tennessee in 2018.

Juniors Ryan Dooley (2-for-4) and Coleman Calabrese (2-for-5) and sophomore Wyatt Peifer (2-for-3) led the way for the Dukes at the plate. Senior Joe Vogatsky earned the win behind 4.1 innings of relief, scattering two hits and allowing one run while striking out four.

How It Happened
First Inning
Arkansas scored two runs in the first to take an early lead in the contest. The Razorbacks strung three consecutive hits together, scoring on a double and then a single for a 2-0 lead.

Fourth Inning
The Dukes tied the game when juniors Calabrese and Jason Schiavone both reached base on a single and a walk, respectively. Peifer then stepped up and doubled own the left field line on the first pitch he saw to plate the two juniors and make the score two-all.

Seventh Inning
Four runs were put on the scoreboard by the Dukes to take the lead for the first time in the game. After a pair of bunt singles and a walk to load the bases with no outs, junior Fenwick Trimble singled up the middle to give JMU a 3-2 lead. Dooley followed with a sacrifice fly, with a second run scoring on the play after the throw in from the outfield was cut off and thrown out of play trying to get a runner at third base. Graduate Brendan O'Donnell then made the score 6-2 with a high chopping groundout to score the runner from third.

Back-to-back two out doubles from the Razorbacks would get a run back to make it 6-3. Senior Joe Vogatsky was able to work his self out of a bases loaded jam to limit the damage to just the lone run.

Ninth Inning
O'Donnell picked up his first home run as a Duke as he pushed the lead back to four with an absolute no doubter for a solo shot to make the score 7-3.

Game Notes

The win marks the first opening weekend win for the Dukes since 2019.
The Dukes batted .364 (4-for-11) with runners in scoring position.
JMU now has five wins against the SEC in program history.

Up Next
The Dukes will go for the series split with the Razorbacks on Monday, Feb. 19 at Baum-Walker Stadium for a 1 p.m. ET/12 p.m. CT first pitch. The game will be streamed on SEC Network+.