HARRISONBURG, Va. – Scoring seven runs across the final two innings, Georgia State pushed past James Madison late, 11-5, in Sun Belt Conference baseball on Saturday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Park.
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The Dukes fell to 10-21 (4-7 SBC) while the Panthers improved to 20-13 (7-4 SBC).
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Senior
Eli Steadman led the way at the plate for JMU, going 2-for-4 with a run scored and a double. Classmate
Casey Smith got the nod on the mound and went 2.1 innings with two strikeouts while giving up four runs (two unearned).
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How It Happened
First Inning
Colin Hynek's team-leading 10
th home run of the season gave Georgia State a 1-0 lead.
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Second Inning
A two-run shot from Carter Bailey extended GSU's lead to 3-0, with both runs unearned.
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The Dukes responded with two of their own, as sophomore
Ike Schmidly connected on a double to score classmate
Kyle Langley before scoring on a sac fly to make it 3-2 from junior
Maddux Fleck.
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Third Inning
Georgia State pushed its lead to two and made it 4-2 on a double down the left field line on a check swing.
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Once again, JMU responded reciprocally in the home half of the inning. Loading the bases, Langley brought home a run on a groundout to make it 4-3.
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Fifth Inning
Senior
Ryan Dooley led off with a walk, stole second, moved to third on a groundout and then scored on a sacrifice fly from classmate
Coleman Calabrese to tie the game at four.
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Seventh Inning
JMU took the lead on a sacrifice fly after freshman
Jack Anderson and senior
Eli Steadman led off the inning with singles. A sacrifice bunt moved both over into scoring position before junior
Wyatt Peifer knocked in Anderson for a 5-4 lead.
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Eighth Inning
After tying the game on a sacrifice fly, a fielding error extended the inning for Georgia State. It then loaded the bases before a double from Hynek drove in all three runners for an 8-5 lead.
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Ninth Inning
The Panthers scored three on a bases-loaded walk and a two-run double to increase their lead to 11-5.
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Game Notes
- Six of Georgia State's 11 runs were unearned.
- The Dukes retired 13 of 18 batters to bridge the third inning through the seventh.
- Freshman Jack Anderson's single in the seventh inning was the first hit of his collegiate career.
- Both teams had five hits out of the leadoff spot, both going 5-for-9.
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Up Next
The Dukes will face Georgia State in the series finale tomorrow, April 6 at 10 a.m., with the start time pushed up due to forecasted inclement weather.
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