Hempstead, NY - Brett Garner and Matt Townsend each drove in three runs to lead the Colonial Athletic Association-leading James Madison Dukes to a 12-7 win over Hofstra Sunday afternoon at University Field. Matt Prokopowicz had a three-hit day for the Pride, who fell to 20-25-1 overall and 10-11 in the CAA with the loss. James Madison improves to 26-20 overall and 16-5 in the CAA.
The Dukes got things started in the second as Matt Tenaglia led off with a triple and scored on a Townsend ground out. David Herbek then singled, stole second and moved to third on an interference call, and came in on Johnny Bladel's sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead. Mike Fabiaschi followed with a double and came around on Trevor Knight's single for a 3-0 Dukes advantage.
The Pride got a run back in their half of the inning as John Kenny reached on a fielder's choice, moved to second on a wild pitch, stole third and scored on an infield error to make it 3-1 after two innings.
JMU would score three times in the third with two of the runs coming on a double by Townsend. The Dukes tacked on a run in the fifth as Tenaglia singled in Matt Browning to give JMU a 7-1 advantage. But Hofstra would not go quietly as the Pride put four runs on the board in the fifth to make it a 7-5 game. Mike Walraven knocked in a run with a bases loaded hit by pitch and Kenny drove in two runs with a single. Walraven scored the final run of the frame when he and Kenny executed a double steal and the throw to second sailed into center field allowing him to score from third.
The Dukes answered right back in the sixth with Pride reliever Ryan Radke hitting Fabiaschi with one out. That prompted a pitching change and Joe Burg entered the game and gave up a single to Knight before Garner launched a three-run home run to centerfield that made the score 10-5.
Hofstra cut into the lead in its half of the inning as Elliot Hagburg walked and Jared Hammer singled to chase JMU starter D.J. Brown. Jason Kuhn came on in relief and he allowed a single by Prokopowicz to drive in Hagburg and send Hammer to third. Matt Ford then lofted a sacrifice fly to center to make it a 10-7 game. But Hofstra would not threaten again and the Dukes tacked on two runs in the ninth to win their seventh CAA series of the year.
Brown (4-3) earned the win for JMU, allowing 10 hits and seven runs (6 earned) in his five-plus innings. Kuhn went the final four innings and allowed just two hits and two walks to notch his first save of the year. Pride starter Sean Monaghan (3-5) allowed three runs and five hits over two innings to take the loss.
Scott A'Hara was the only other Hofstra player to record multiple hits as he had two singles. As a team, Hofstra recorded 12 singles and were held without an extra-base hit for the first time in 18 games. The Pride's Jeff Guthridge, who pitched two scoreless innings, made a school record-tying 28th appearance out of the bullpen. He ties Jeff Denlea's five-year old record.
Tenaglia was 4-for-4 on the day for James Madison, while Garner had three hits.
The Pride return to action Wednesday afternoon at Saint Peter's. Game time is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
-30-
