TOWSON, Md. – Eleven members of the Towson University baseball team played their final game in a Tiger uniform in an 11-6 loss in the second game of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon.
Game Information
Score: James Madison 11, Towson 6
Records: James Madison (26-26, 11-13 CAA), Towson (13-42, 6-18 CAA)
Series: JMU wins series 3-0
Location: Schuerholz Park (Towson, Md.)
Key Plays
- With the Tigers trailing in the third inning with Dukes on second and third, Dean Stramara fielded a hot shot up the middle to get the out and keep the deficit at four.
- JMU got an infield single with one out in the eighth inning that led to the game-winning runs.
How it Happened
- JMU jumped out to the early advantage with a four-run third inning that was highlighted by a three-run double from Zach Tondi.
- The lead was nearly larger as JMU had runners on second and third with one out. Dean Stramara fielded a hard comebacker to get the second out, then got a groundout to end the inning.
- Towson got one run back in the fourth on a solo home run from Colin Gimblet.
- The Tigers took their first lead of the game in the fifth inning as Tristan Howerton led off the inning with a single.
- After a fielding error, Mark Grunberg beat out a bunt for a single. When the ball was thrown away at first, two runs came in to score on the play.
- A third run scored on a wild pitch before Gimblet drove in his second run of the game with a single to left center.
- Stramara settled down after the third inning as he would retire 14-straight hitters before leaving after seven innings with the lead. He allowed four runs on five hits and seven strikeouts over seven innings.
- JMU got to the Tigers bullpen in the eighth as a one-out infield single led to a four-run inning. Tondi drove in his fourth run of the game and Tanner Dofflemyer plated two runs with a double to left center.
- The Dukes tacked on three insurance runs in the top of the ninth.
- Towson did not go quietly in the bottom of the ninth as Grunberg singled, Richie Palacios walked and Noah Cabrera was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Richard Miller took ball four with the bases loaded to score a run.
- Kody Reeser (0-1) suffered the loss as he gave up four runs in one inning of work.
- Daniel Goggin (5-3) picked up the victory after allowing a hit in two-thirds of an inning out of the bullpen.
- Matt Colon (3) retired both hitters he faced to pick up the save.
Inside the Box Score
- Colin Gimblet homered in his second-straight game after entering the day without a home run.
- Gimblet finished the day with two hits and two RBIs.
- Richie Palacios drew three walks to raise his season total to 52. He now holds the all-time single-season record, breaking the old record of 50 set by Hans Falkenhan in 2005.
- Palacios also joins Falkenhan as the only players in school history to draw 50 walks and score 50 runs in the same season.
- Mark Grunberg closed out the season by going 2-for-4 with a walk and a pair of runs scored.
On Deck
The 2018 season is complete.