GREENSBORO, N.C. – James Madison took an early 3-0 lead in the second inning and continued to pour on the offense as it scored at least two runs in six innings on Sunday as UNCG fell to the Dukes, 17-7, at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Dukes reliever Josh Futter picked up his first win of the season as he pitched 4 2/3 innings and allowed just one hit and struck out four. UNCG (18-16) starter Jonathan Jones was credited with the loss after allowing seven runs on 10 hits in 3 1/3 innings of work.
Bobby Martin led the Spartans with three RBI and two runs scored and teammate Trevor Edwards added a pair of hits and two RBI, as well.
Johnny Bladel and Jake Lowery each went 3-5 at the plate with three RBI each and Ty McFarland had an impressive 4-5 afternoon with an RBI and three runs scored.
The Dukes took the early lead in the second inning as they hit back-to-back-to-back singles to score their first run. A double by Ian Haynes added another run before a sacrifice fly gave them a 3-0 lead.
UNCG was able to respond, though, in the home half of the second with four runs to take the lead. Thomas Troelstrup was hit by a pitch and after a fly out, Cambric Moye and John Hein each drew walks to load the bases.
Drew Gehringer then scored a run on a fielder's choice before another walk to Martin loaded the bases again. Edwards then hit a line drive past the first baseman and the right fielder let it roll past him to clear the bases and put the Spartans in front, 4-3.
That lead didn't last long as James Madison scored a pair of runs in the top of the third inning to retake the lead at 5-4.
The Dukes put up three more runs in the top of the fourth inning, highlighted by a two-run double down the left-field line by Matt Tenaglia to stretch their lead to 8-4.
The Spartans continued to fight to keep it close as Hein and Gehringer drew back-to-back walks with one out in the bottom of the fourth. Martin then took a 2-1 pitch out to left field for his first home run of the season and cut the Dukes' lead down to 8-7.
James Madison came right back with two runs of its own in the top of the fifth on back-to-back RBI singles by Bladel and Lowery to make it 10-7.
Lowery struck again in the seventh inning with a two-run triple as part of a three-run inning push the Duke lead out o 13-7.
James Madison would tack on four more in the eighth inning to make the final score 17-7.
The Spartans return to the diamond on Tuesday as they travel to Duke for a 6 p.m. game.
AGATE
James Madison 17, UNCG 7
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James Madison....... 032 320 340 - 17 21 2 (24-13)
UNCG................ 040 300 000 - 7 5 3 (18-16)
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Pitchers: James Madison - Slogik, Nick; Mayer, Scott(4); Futter, Josh(4); Bladel, Johnny(9) and Lowery, Jake; Merullo, Nick. UNCG - Jonathan Jones; Zach Furl(4); Dylan Hathcock(5); Pete Schultz(7); Kris Richards(8); Dylan Newton(8); Andrew Spleth(9) and Cambric Moye; Zach Leach.
Win-Futter, Josh(1-0) Loss-Jonathan Jones(0-4) T-3:24 A-299
HR UNCG - Bobby Martin.
Weather: 60 and sunny
Hathcock faced 1 batter in the 7th.
Richards faced 3 batters in the 8th.
- UNCG -
