The Dukes, who took the series 2-1, improved to 22-12 overall .JMU upped itsCAArecord to 2-4. Old Dominion, which had won 14 of 17 coming into theseries, slipped to 17-14-1 overall and to 5-4 in the CAA.
Sophomore catcher Dustin Bowman hit a two-run single, freshmanthird baseman Brent Metheny smacked a two-run double, and sophomoreshortstop Dan Woodley added an RBI-double in the Dukes' sixth inning.Junior center feilder Rich Thompson's infield hit started the rally.He was followed by junior left fielder Greg Miller, who singled, andconsecutive walks by junior right fielder Jeremy Hays, senior firstbaseman Eric Bender and sophomore designated hitter Steve Ballowe.Bender's walk forced in the first run before Miller raced in on apassed ball with Ballowe at the plate. Bowman, Metheny and Woodleythen got consecutive hits.
The Monarchs had scored four runs in the top of the sixth to pullto within 7-6. Junior shortstop Tim Hummel (2-for-3, 3 RBIs) cappedthe rally when he grounded a double inside the bag at third base toscore two runs. The Monarchs got their first run of the inning whensophomore third baseman Jeff Eure doubled and scored one out laterwhen Metheny threw wildly to first base after fielding junior secondbaseman Ross Robertson's grounder. The Monarchs loaded the bases witha pair of hit batsmen and scored their second run as freshman rightfielder Brent Sollenberger walked with the bases loaded. Hummel'sdouble came with two outs.
After JMU starter Mike Trussell (1-2), a redshirt freshman, walkedhis fourth batter of the game, freshman Chris Cochran made his firstrelief appearance after eight starts this season and struck out Eureto end the inning. Cochran worked 2 1/3 innings and gave up one runon one hit. He struck out and walked two.
Jared Musolf (Lakehurst, NJ.)added two hits on the day toraise his batting average to .417,while Hummel is batting.408.
Ballowe went 3-for-4 with a double, triple and his team-best fourthhomer of the season for JMU. He also drove in three runs.
The Monarchs play their annual Metrocall Scholarship exhibition game against theNorfolk Tides (NY Mets AAAaffiliate) Tuesday night at Harbor Park, beginning at 7:15p.m. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for ODU students andchildren.
R H EODU 011 004 010 7 6 0JMU 310 307 00x 14 16 5 Batteries: Friske, Jackson (6) and Silver, Ohler (7). Trussell,Cochran (6), McKernan (8) and Bowman. WP - Trussel (1-2). LP - Friske(3-2). S - None. HR: J - Ballowe, none on in 5th (4).