Dukes Suffer First Setback at Home This Season

Wednesday, March 13

Harrisonburg, Va.

4 p.m.

James Madison University

12-5

Niagara

10-6

Niagara

James Madison

3/13/2024 6:55:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – The best home start to a season since 2003 for James Madison baseball came to an end on Wednesday afternoon, falling to Niagara, 8-5, for its first setback at Veterans Memorial Park this season.

The Dukes fell to 12-5 while the Purple Eagles snapped a four-game losing streak and improved to 10-6.

At the plate, Brendan O'Donnell led the way by going 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and two RBI's. Junior Casey Smith started for the Dukes and went five innings, striking out two and allowing two runs.

How It Happened
Fourth Inning
After retiring the first batter on a fly out, Smith gave up a single before a two-run homer to break the scoreless tie.

Sixth Inning
Niagara added a run in the sixth on the third batter of the inning. A leadoff walk was followed by a double to put runners in scoring position before a groundout would bring in one. After a walk, a double that just stayed inside the third base bag brought two more home for a 5-0 lead.

JMU sent nine batters to the plate to bring home four runs and make it a one run game in the home half. It began on an O'Donnell two-run homer that got the Dukes on the board. After back-to-back doubles from sophomore Jack Guerrero and junior Jason Schiavone to bring home a third run, sophomore Mike Mancini singled in Schiavone to make it 5-4.

Seventh Inning
A leadoff jack off the bat of Jason Green made it 6-4 in favor of Niagara.

Eighth Inning
The third homer of the day for the Purple Eagles made it 8-4 as Kelly Corl hit a two-run blast.

Ninth Inning
Redshirt senior Mason Dunaway cut the deficit to three with an RBI single into right field to make it 8-5.

Game Notes

Jack Guerrero is 4-for-4 this season coming in as a pinch hitter.

Up Next
The Dukes head into the first Sun Belt Conference series of the season on March 15-17 as they travel to No. 16 Coastal Carolina. All three games will be streamed on ESPN+ with the opener on Friday beginning at 6 p.m.