Hempstead, NY - James Madison built a 9-1 lead after three
innings and cruised to a 13-2 win over Hofstra Friday afternoon in Colonial
Athletic Association play at University Field. The loss was Hofstra's first home
loss after a 9-0 start.
James Madison improves to 12-25-1 overall and 7-12 in the
CAA with the win, while Hofstra falls to 20-16 overall and 10-6 in league play.
The Dukes wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard,
scoring four runs in the top of the first. Johnny Bladell laced a one-out
single up the middle, Ty McFarland followed with an identical hit that put
runners on the corners. Evan Scott singled right back up the middle as well to
again put runners on the corners and make it 1-0 in favor of the Dukes. A walk
to Colby Roberts loaded the bases for Cole McInturff and he delivered a two-run
single up the middle for a 3-0 lead. A single by Chad Carroll loaded the bases
once again and ended Hofstra starter Jared Rogers (0-5) day after 1/3 of an
inning. Andrew Barbarino came on and got the second out before hitting Aaron
Hoover with a pitch to make it a 4-0 game.
James Madison would score twice in the second on a Carroll
two-run single and then add three in the third on a three-run homer by Scott to
take a commanding 9-0 lead.
The Pride would score a run in the third as Austin Nyman
doubled and Danny Poma drove him in with an RBI single.
JMU would tack on three runs in the sixth and another run in
the eighth to close out its scoring, while Hofstra got a run in the ninth as Jared Hammer doubled and later came in to score on a Kevin Flynn ground out.
Rogers gave up five hits and four runs in his abbreviated
start as Hofstra used seven pitchers in the game.
James Madison starter Patrick Toohers held the Pride at bay,
allowing just seven hits and one run over eight innings of work to improve to
2-1.
Carroll had a four-hit game for JMU, which collected 18 hits
on the day and had six players with two or more hits. Carroll drove in a
game-high four runs.
Poma had two of Hofstra's eight hits, including his
NCAA-leading 21st double of the year in the eighth. Hammer's ninth-inning
double kept his seven-game hitting streak alive and extended his on-base streak
to 43 consecutive games dating back to last season.
The teams will conclude the series tomorrow with a
doubleheader starting at 11 a.m.
