Big First Inning Gives Dukes Perfect Homestand

Tuesday, March 5

Harrisonburg, Va.

3 p.m.

James Madison University

9-3

VMI

6-8

VMI

James Madison

3/5/2024 7:02:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. — A five-run first inning gave James Madison baseball enough offense to take down VMI, 8-4, on Tuesday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Park to give the Dukes a perfect 8-0 homestand.

The Dukes won their eighth consecutive game and improved to 9-3. The Keydets dropped to 6-8.

Redshirt senior Mason Dunaway led the Dukes at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and season-highs of two runs scored and three RBI's. Graduate Donovan Burke picked up his first win on the mound, starting and going five innings and striking out one while giving up two runs.

How It Happened
First Inning
JMU had its second five-run first inning in the span of three games. Dunaway got the scoring started with a two-run double to score sophomore Mike Mancini and junior Ryan Dooley. A sacrifice fly from redshirt senior Jacob Steinberg scored Dunaway and was followed by a throwing error from VMI to score another run and keep the inning alive for the Dukes. Sophomore Wyatt Peifer singled the final run of the inning the next at bat.

Third Inning
VMI got on the board by hitting three straight singles to begin the third. A fielder's choice pushed a second run across to make the score 5-2.

Junior Jason Schiavone increased the lead to four, as he followed a single from Steinberg with his first career triple to up the score to 6-2.

Fifth Inning
An RBI single from graduate Brendan O'Donnell moved the lead back to five for the Dukes as he scored Dunaway for a 7-2 lead.

Sixth Inning
Dunaway knocked in his third RBI of the day on a based loaded sacrifice fly to give JMU the lead at 8-2.

Eighth Inning
A two-run homer from Cole Garrett cut the deficit in half to 8-4.

Game Notes

JMU won its sixth consecutive overall and seventh consecutive at home against VMI in the all-time series.
VMI put their leadoff batter on seven times compared to JMU's five.
The Keydets left 12 on base.

Up Next
The Dukes hit the road for the first time in almost three weeks as they travel to ETSU for a three-game set on March 8-10. The opener on Friday is set for 3 p.m.