April 13, 2012
NORFOLK, VA-- ODU senior Chris Baker drove in three runs, but JMU held off the Monarchs, 13-8 in game one of the three-game CAA series between last year's LeagueChampionship game opponents.
The JMU Dukes (10-23-1/5-11) pounded out 14 hits led by Conner Brown, Evan Scott and Ty McFarland who each had three hits.
The Monarchs were led by Chris Baker, Josh Eldridge and Josh Wright, each with two hits. Baker knocked in three Monarch runs driving in Josh Eldridge and Michael Perez with a double in the third inning and singled home Eldridge in the fifth. Eldridge tripled home Josh Wright and Perez in ODU's four-run fifth inning.
The Dukes scored seven runs in the third to jump out to an 8-0 lead headed by two RBI hits from Casey Goss and Colby Roberts.
The Monarchs cut into the lead at 11-8 in the eighth after Perez tripled home Brent Frazier and Perez later scored on Shawn Sizemore'sRBI groundout.
The Dukes then tacked on two more runs in the ninth on an RBI triple by Evan Scott who later scored on a passed ball. Besides 14 hits, JMU battersalso received 12 walks from eight Monarch pitchers who also fanned nine.
Perez scored three times on the night for the Monarchs, while Evan Scott scored four times and Conner Brown three times for JMU.
The two teams play again on Saturday at 3 p.m.
JMU 017 010 022=13=14=0ODU 002 040 020= 8-11-2
JMU Battery: Toohers, Cundiff(5), Hoover (7), Huffman(8) and ShabanODU Battery: McCarthy, Bratton(3), Verland(4), Griffey(6), Overton(6),Engler(8), Ramirez(9), Ney(9) and Perez
ATT: 771WP: Cundiff(4-1) LP: McCarthy (0-5) Save: Huffman(2)