April 14, 2012
NORFOLK, VA--ODU's (12-23/3-11) designated hitter Josh Tutwiler hit two homers, but James Madison (11-23-1/6-11) rallied for two runs in thetop of the ninth and two more in the 10th to defeat the Monarchs 7-6.
In the first inning, ODU freshman outfielder Josh Eldridge doubled home senior shortstop Josh Wright to give the Monarchs a 1-0 lead. JMU tied it in the third when Chad Carroll singled, then advanced to third on Casey Goss's single. Carroll would then score on a pass ball.
In the bottom of the third Tutwiler slammed his fourth homer of the season to rightfield for a 2-1 ODU lead. JMU again tied the contest inthe fourth on Conner Brown's double to centerfield scoring Johnny Bladel.
In the fifth inning senior outfielder/firstbaseman Chris Baker opened with a single to leftfield and Tutwiler followed with his fifth homer of the season over the left centerfield wall for a 4-2 ODU lead.
JMU cut it to 4-3 in the eighth as Johnny Bladel walked, stole second and came home on Conner Brown's single. In the bottom of the eighth,Sophomore Drew Coker and Josh Wright walked. Coker advanced to third on Josh Eldridge's fly ball out to rightfield, then scored on Chris Baker's fielder's choice groundout which forced Josh Wright out as second for a 5-3 ODU lead.
In the ninth inning Chad Carroll singled home Colby Roberts and Bradley Shaban to tie the game at 5-5. In the top of the tenth inning,JMU loaded the bases, Bladel scores from third on a force play at second and pinch runner Ian Haynes later scored on an RBI single byColby Roberts for a 7-6 JMU lead.
The Monarchs threatened in the 10 after loading the bases with one out. Josh Wright who reached on an error would score on Brent Frazier'ssacrifice fly to make it 7-6, but JMU reliever Chris Huffman got out of the jam for the win.
Tutwiler led ODU with three RBI, while he along with Josh Wright, Josh Eldridge and Chris Baker each had two hits on the day.JMU was led by Conner Brown and Chad Carroll who both knocked in two runs. Johnny Bladel scored three times and also walked three times.
ODU starting pitcher Ben Tomchick, the CAA Pitcher of the Week fanned nine batters and allowed just two runs on four hits with three walks in the no decision.
ODU has now played six 10 inning games thus far this season with a 2-4 record.
The third and final game of this CAA series between last year's League Championship game opponents is Sunday at 1 p.m. at the BudMetheny Baseball Complex.
JMU 001 100 012 2=7-8-2ODU 101 020 010 1=6-9-2
JMU Battery: Howerton, Arnold(6), Futter(7), Hoover(8), Huffman(9) and Shaban.ODU Battery: B.tomchick, E.Baker(7), Ali(9) and Perez
WP: Huffman(2-3) LP: Ali(1-3)HR: ODU-Tutwiler 2(5)