MONTGOMERY, Ala. – A back-and-forth affair ended in a heartbreaker for James Madison, as a three-run eighth inning propelled App State to an 8-5 win and ended the Dukes’ inaugural run in the Guardian Credit Union Sun Belt Conference Baseball Championship presented by Troy University on Thursday morning at Riverwalk Stadium.
The seventh-seeded Dukes dropped to 31-25 and will finish at least six games over .500 for the first time since 2011, while sixth-seeded App State improved to 28-24.
Graduate student Jack Cone started for JMU and went three innings with a pair of strikeouts. Redshirt junior Mason Dunaway and sophomore Jason Schiavone led at the plate by both going 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI’s.
Jeriah Henry earned his first win of the season for App State and Skylar Brooks picked up his second save.
How It Happened
Third Inning
App State struck first with a pair of doubles to knock the first run in of the game. A single from Hayden Cross followed the second double to make it 2-0.
Fourth Inning
The Dukes responded quickly on a redshirt senior Kyle Novak single to score freshman Mike Mancini, who led the inning off with a single. The next at bat, Schiavone would hit his ninth homer of the year to propel JMU forward with a 3-2 lead.
A two-run response was given by the Mountaineers on a pair of singles to retake the lead at 4-3 in the home half of the fourth.
Fifth Inning
After a single and a walk put two on for App, it used a single through the left side to add a run and make it 5-3.
Seventh Inning
Dunaway’s second homer of the season came at no better time, as his long ball followed a five-pitch walk drawn by Cone to tie the game at five apiece.
Eighth Inning
The Mountaineers scored three runs in the eighth to secure the contest, getting a runner on third before taking the lead on a double after the batted ball hit off the first base bag and landed in right field. Cross followed it with a two-run shot out to right field and an 8-5 lead.
Game Notes
Matt Kleinfelter set the single-season program record for appearances by making his 30th of the season. He is now the lone Duke to make 30 appearances on the mound.
— JMU Athletics —
