BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – James Madison plated six runs in a decisive sixth inning and held on for a 9-6 win over Gardner-Webb Friday.
It was the second comeback win of the day for the Dukes (2-0), who rallied to top Buffalo 5-4 earlier Saturday afternoon at John Henry Moss Stadium/Bill Masters Field.
Gardner-Webb (0-1) used a big inning of its own to go on top early, plating four runs in the third. Evan Hyett led that frame off with a walk, working a full count and taking the base on the seventh pitch of the at bat. Hyett moved to third on a sharp single from Ryan Hodge and scored on Scott Johnson's rip to right field.
James Madison starter Mark Gunst recorded a strikeout to slow the rally, but an error allowed Patrick Graham to reach on batter later and Hodge scored for a 2-0 edge. Collin Thacker singled in Johnson for a 3-0 lead and Tyler Best pushed the lead to 4-0 on an RBI groundout. Gunst worked away from further damage with an infield pop up for the third out.
The Dukes took back a run in the fifth, when Michael Scorria led off with a single, moved to second on a ground ball and swiped third base with two outs. Josh Wyatt slapped a double just inside the bag at third for James Madison's first run of the game. Gardner-Webb starter Erik Heiligenstadt got out of the jam with a lead intact, however, rolling a ground ball to end the inning.
Gardner-Webb left two men on base in the bottom of the fifth, and James Madison caught fire with one out in the sixth.
Kyle McPherson legged out an infield single and moved to second on a wild pitch to mount the initial threat. Chad Carroll doubled down the line and nearly scored when Kyle Weston followed with a double – but was called out when he missed the third base bag. Scorria singled home Weston to trim the lead to 4-3 and scored on a costly throwing error to tie the game with two outs.
Wyatt pushed the lead to 5-4 with another RBI knock and Bradley McKay drove home two more with a double to right field off the wall for a 7-4 lead. Reliever Wil Sellers recorded a strikeout to end the frame, but the Dukes had seized momentum.
Gardner-Webb took advantage of two JMU errors to get a run back in the bottom of the sixth. Hodge singled with one out and moved to second on a fielding miscue. A sacrifice bunt attempt forced a high throw at first, and Hodge scored on the play to trim the lead to 7-5.
A leadoff single by McPherson proved fruitful for the Dukes and he scored on a wild pitch with one out for an 8-5 lead. Sellers again worked out of further damage to keep Gardner-Webb within striking distance.
Gardner-Webb had a golden opportunity to pull even in the seventh, loading the bases and cutting the lead to 8-6 when Johnson drew a walk with two outs – working a full count on seven pitches in a solid plate appearance. The 'Dogs left the bases juiced, however, as Michael Evans came on to record a strikeout to end the brief rally.
Evans fanned a pair of batters in a quick eighth and, after the Dukes added an insurance run, recorded two more in the ninth for the save.
Andrew Scarpelli (1-0) picked up the win in relief, tossing 1.2 innings and allowing an unearned run. Gunst was tagged for four runs (two earned) in 3.2 innings of work, but struck out five batters. Steven Schwartz and Evans closed out the game – with Evans fanning five in just 2.1 innings of perfect work.
JMU's pitching staff struck out 15 Gardner-Webb batters in the game.
McPherson (4-for-5, 3 runs) and Scorria (3-for-5, 2 RBI) each had big days at the plate for the Dukes, who rapped out 15 hits and overcame five errors defensively to win.
Mitch Warner (0-1) took the loss in relief for Gardner-Webb, allowing three unearned runs on two hits without recording an out. Sellers scattered six hits and fanned five while allowing two runs in 3.0 innings of work.
Heiligenstadt took a no decision after allowing three runs on seven hits in 5.2 innings. The redshirt senior fanned five without issuing a walk.
Gardner-Webb managed just seven hits in the game, with Hodge (2-for-4, 2 runs) and Fulginiti (2-for-5, 2B) collecting more than half those knocks. Johnson (1-for-4, 2 RBI), Thacker (1-for-4, RBI) and Matt Simmons (1-for-4) also had hits for Gardner-Webb.
The Runnin' Bulldogs will be back in action at Noon Saturday, hosting Buffalo. Gardner-Webb and James Madison will play again on Saturday, with first pitch set for 40 minutes after the end of the GWU-Buffalo contest.
