HARRISONBURG, Va. - In the final game of their three-game weekend series, sophomore second baseman Bradley Shaban had two hits and drove in four runs as James Madison University (34-17, 18-9) moved into a tie for first place in the Colonial Athletic Association with a rain-delayed 11-1 CAA victory over the Tigers (25-26-1, 14-13) to complete a sweep of their three-game series at Veterans Memorial Park on Sunday afternoon.

While winning their seventh straight CAA contest, the Dukes moved into a first place tie with Old Dominion University (26-21, 18-9). Old Dominion lost to UNC Wilmington on Sunday, 5-3.

With the loss, the Tigers suffered their fifth consecutive defeat and fell into a fifth place tie in the CAA standings, one full game behind Georgia State (35-17, 15-12). It was only the Tigers' second loss in 12 Sunday games this season.

The Dukes, who lead the CAA with a .322 team batting average, banged out 15 hits in the win over the Tigers. JMU hit three doubles, a triple and one home run.

Sophomore righthander Michael Trionfo ran into immediate difficulty with two outs in the bottom of the first inning. Senior shortstop Dave Herbek singled to left field and first baseman Matt Tenaglia doubled to left center. When senior centerfielder Alex Foltz drew a walk, the Dukes had the bases loaded and no outs.

But, Trionfo escaped the jam by striking out designated hitter Ty McFarland.

With the game still scoreless after two innings, the game was delayed for 89 minutes by a weather delay.

Senior lefthander Alex Valadja resumed shutting out the Tigers when play resumed. Senior righthander Zach Umberger came in to relieve Trionfo after the weather delay.

In the top of the fourth inning, senior rightfielder Steve Rice (right) doubled for the Tigers with two outs. But, senior third baseman Chris Wychock was retired on a fly ball to rightfield, ending the inning.

McFarland led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a double to right centerfield for the Dukes. Sophomore second baseman Bradley Shaban reached base when he was hit by a pitch. Freshman third baseman Connor Brown dropped down a perfect bunt and reached base on a bunt single as the Dukes loaded the bases with no outs.

Sophomore rightfielder Cole McInturff gave the Dukes a 1-0 lead when he hit a sacrifice fly to left field. After junior leftfielder Johnny Bladel was retired on a fly ball to short leftfield, there were two outs. But, junior catcher Jake Lowery came through with a single to centerfield, driving in Shaban to give JMU a 2-0 advantage. Umberger pitched out of the inning when Herbek grounded out to third base.

The Tigers tried to tie the score in the top of the fifth inning with a two-out rally. A walk to freshman leftfielder Dominic Fratantuono with two outs started the rally. Senior shortstop Nick Natoli followed him with a single to rightfield, his second hit of the game. The Tigers cut their deficit to 2-1 when freshman second baseman Pat Fitzgerald lined a single to centerfield, scoring Fratantuono.

But Valadja escaped the jam when he got senior first baseman Austin Harclerode to hit a fly ball to centerfield for the final out.

 In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Dukes rallied for three runs to extend their lead to 5-1. Tenaglia opened the fifth by drawing a walk. Foltz followed with a triple down the rightfield line, scoring Tenaglia to extend the lead to 3-1. After McFarland drew a walk, Shaban singled to rightfield, scoring another run. A bunt single by Brown loaded the bases again. A sacrifice fly by McInturff drove in McFadden to give the Dukes a 5-1 advantage. Bladel lined into a double play to end the inning.

Junior righthander Tyler Austin came on to relieve Umberger at the start of the sixth inning and the Dukes erupted for six runs to extend their advantage to 11-1. Lowery and Herbek opened the inning with back-to-back singles before a walk to Tenaglia loaded the bases.

A two-run single by Foltz gave the Dukes a 7-1 lead. When McFadden lined an RBI single to rightfield, the lead was increased to 8-1.

Austin left the game after facing only five batters. He walked one and gave up four hits.

Senior righthander Tyler Bugna replaced him on the mound. Shaban greeted him with a three-run home run over the rightfield fence, his fifth homer of the season. That gave the Dukes an 11-1 advantage.

After Brown singled to right for his third hit of the game, McInturff grounded into a double play, Then, Bugna retired Bladel on a fly ball to rightfield.

In the seventh inning, Natoli singled with one out but the Tigers couldn't get a rally started.

With two outs in the eighth inning, Wychock and Winter had back-to-back singles for the Tigers. But freshman centerfielder Brandon Gonnella hit a fly ball to centerfield, ending the inning.

The Dukes' fourth pitcher of the game, junior lefthander Scott Mayer retired the Tigers in order in the ninth inning to nail down the victory.

Valadja earned the win for the Dukes, upping his record to 5-3. He pitched six innings and allowed one run on six hits. He walked three and struck out four.

Brown led the Dukes' 15-hit attack with three singles. Foltz added two hits and three RBI's while Herbek, who batted .500 in the three-game series, was two-for-four.

Lowery, who hit .500 in the series with a homer and eight RBI's, added two hits in the series finale. McFarland also contributed two hits and scored three runs.

Natoli, who batted .462 in the JMU series, led the Tigers with three hits. Rice also added a pair of hits.

In the three-game series, JMU pitching held the Tigers to a .255 team batting average and 13 runs. The Dukes batted .357 over the weekend and scored 31 runs.

The Tigers return to action on Tuesday when they visit George Washington for a 3:00 game. The Tigers close out the regular season over the weekend when they host William & Mary in a three-game CAA series.

 CAA Standings (As of May 15, 2011)