HARRISONBURG, Va. - Junior righthander Turner Phelps and two relief pitchers combined to pitch a unique six-hit shutout as James Madison University (7-10, 2-1) blanked the Tigers (3-16, 1-2) by a 10-0 margin in the third and deciding game of their three-game Colonial Athletic Association series at the Dukes' brand new Veterans Memorial Park on Sunday afternoon.
Phelps, who earned his first win of the season, and relievers David Edwards and Kevin Munson did a masterful job of pitching with runners on base. In addition to allowing six base hits, JMU pitchers issued ten walks.
In the top of the first inning, the Tigers missed a great opportunity to take an early lead. Phelps started the game by walking sophomore centerfielder Ben Winter and senior rightfielder Kevin Collins. When senior first baseman Steve Yarsinsky followed with a single to left, the Tigers had the bases loaded with no outs. However, Phelps pitched out of the jam by getting junior second baseman Chris Wychock to hit into a double play as Winter was retired at home plate. Then, Phelps retired junior third baseman Austin Harclerode on an infield ground ball to second base.
In the bottom of the first, the Dukes jumped out to a 3-0 lead. With one out, first baseman Trevor Knight singled to centerfield. When senior Matt Browning followed with a single, the Dukes had runners at first and third. Junior shortstop David Herbek gave the Dukes a 1-0 lead when he hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield. When senior Matt Townsend belted a two-run to left center, JMU owned a 3-0 advantage.
The Dukes upped their lead to 4-0 in the third inning when Knight single and Browning hit an RBI double to left centerfield.
The Tigers missed a great chance to get back in the game in the top of the fourth inning. Phelps issued consecutive walks to Harclerode, freshman Kurt Wertz and freshman catcher Andrew Parker to load the bases with no outs. But, the Dukes escaped the jam when junior shortstop Nick Natoli grounded into a double play and junior Eric Weller struck out.
Another double play in the fifth inning ended another Tiger scoring opportunity as Yarsinsky lined into a double play.
The Dukes added an unearned run in their half of the fifth inning when freshman Cole McInturff reached base on an error and scored on a sacrifice fly by Knight.
James Madison added three more runs in the sixth inning when senior Brett Garner drew a walk and scored on a triple by freshman Matt Tenaglia. A two-run homer by senior second baseman Mike Fabiaschi gave the Dukes an 8-0 advantage.
In the top of the seventh, Phelps left the game after shutting out the Tigers on five hits through 6.1 innings. He walked eight and struck out four. Edwards came on to relieve him and gave up just one hit in 1.2 innings before Munson pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Browning drew a walk and advanced to third base on a double by Herbek. Garner's two-run double scored both runners to give the Dukes a 10-0 lead. Freshman lefthander Mike Ryan relieved senior righthander Nate Curd after Garner's double and retired the side.
Junior righthander Tyler Bugna came out of the Towson bullpen to pitch a scoreless eighth inning, striking out two.
Browning led James Madison's 12-hit attack by going three-for-three with one RBI. Fabiaschi added two hits and drove in a pair of runs.
Collins led the Tigers with two of their six base hits. He also drew two walks and reached base four times. Yarsinsky also had one hit and walked twice while Parker had a single and two hits.
The Tigers left 13 runners on base in the loss.
The Tigers return to action on Tuesday, March 23 when they host UMBC at Schuerholz Park at 3:00 p.m.
