Hempstead, NY - Matt Browning and Matt Townsend homered in the top of the sixth to break a 7-7 tie and the Dukes would add seven runs in the ninth to post a 17-9 Colonial Athletic Association win over the Pride Friday evening at University Field. Hofstra received a four-hit performance from senior Ethan Paquette, who became Hofstra's single-season RBI leader in the contest. Hofstra falls to 19-24-1, 9-10 in the CAA, while first place James Madison improves to 25-19, 15-4 in league play.
The Dukes put up single runs in the first and second to hold a 2-0 lead after an inning and a half. Trevor Knight led off the game with a triple and scored on a Brett Garner groundout in the first. In the second, Johnny Bladel singled and went to third on an errant pickoff attempt. He would then come in on Mike Fabiaschi's sacrifice fly.
Hofstra halved the deficit in the bottom of the second as senior Elliot Hagburg and freshman Jared Hammer laced back-to-back doubles down the right field line. But JMU responded in the third with five runs to seemingly break the game open. Garner doubled to lead off the frame and after a hit batsman, Browning delivered an RBI single for a 3-1 Dukes lead. Later in the inning Matt Tenaglia had a two-run single and Townsend delivered the first of two two-run home runs to make the score 7-1 in favor of the visitors.
But Hofstra got a run back in the third after Paquette doubled, stole third and came in on junior catcher Kevin Flynn's infield single. The Pride then would rally for five runs in the fourth to tie the score at seven. Hagburg doubled to open the inning and Hammer drove him in with a single. Senior Matt Prokopowicz then extended his hitting streak to 23 games with a double that put runners at second and third. Matt Ford reached on an infield hit to drive in a second run and one batter later Paquette hit the first of his two home runs on the day, a three run shot that tied the score at 7-7.
After a scoreless fifth, the Dukes scored what proved to be the game-winning runs in the sixth. Browning hit a one-out home run to straightaway centerfield to snap the tie and with two outs, Townsend also cleared the centerfield fence with a two-run shot that gave JMU a 10-7 lead.
Hofstra chipped away in the bottom of the inning, scoring twice off of JMU reliever Jason Kuhn. Paquette hit a one-out home run to center and senior John Kenny followed with a single. After Kenny stole second, junior Scott A'Hara plated him with an RBI double. That prompted JMU coach Spanky McFarland to bring in his top relief pitcher, Kevin Munson, who entered with a 7-1 record and seven saves. The hard-throwing righty, who reached the mid-90's on the radar guns at the field, struck out Hagburg to end the inning. Munson would go the final 3 1/3 innings to notch his eighth save of the year.
James Madison broke open the game in the ninth, scoring seven times off of three pitchers in the ninth. JMU catcher Jake Lowery had a two-run double in the inning as the Dukes sent 13 to the plate.
Kuhn picked up the win for James Madison to improve to 2-3 on the year. Junior Jeff Guthridge, who gave up both home runs in the sixth inning takes the loss and falls to 2-3 on the year.
With his four RBI's in the contest, Paquette broke a tie with Greg Polli (1985) to take sole possession of first place on the Hofstra single season list for RBIs with 66. Paquette and Polli were tied entering the game.
The series continues with game two Saturday afternoon. Hofstra freshman David D'Errico will oppose JMU junior Turner Phelps. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m.
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