BERGER THROWS GEM AS NORTHEASTERN BEATS JMU, 3-1
Rob Washburn
Boxscore | Highlights
WILMINGTON, N.C. (May 21, 2014) – Junior right-hander Nick Berger tossed a complete-game four-hitter with 10 strikeouts as fifth-seeded Northeastern stayed alive in the 2014 CAA Baseball Championship by beating #6 James Madison, 3-1, on Wednesday night at Brooks Field.
The Huskies (26-28), who rebounded from a 4-3 loss to Delaware earlier today, will play at 7 p.m. on Thursday against a yet to be determined opponent. JMU, which was forced to retake the field just 45 minutes after a heartbreaking 11-10, 10-inning setback to UNCW, ended its season with a 17-36 record.
Berger (3-6) was in control throughout, surrendering only four singles and keeping the Dukes off the scoreboard until there were two outs in the ninth. He fanned 10, including seven looking, and didn’t issue a walk while throwing his second consecutive complete game.
Sophomore Aaron Hoover (1-8) took the loss for the Dukes despite an excellent effort on the hill. The left-hander scattered eight hits and surrendered three unearned runs while throwing his second complete game of the season. He struck out two and didn’t give up a walk.
Gabe Levanti was 2-for-3 with a run scored for Northeastern, while Michael Foster and Brad Burcroff each went 2-for-4. Senior Connor Lyons drove in a pair of runs.
Northeastern got all of its runs in the fifth inning with the aid of a JMU error. Levanti opened the frame with a single to left. Sean Lyons advanced him to second with a sacrifice bunt and reached base himself when the throw pulled the first baseman off the bag. Both runners advanced into scoring position with two outs, and Connor Lyons delivered a two-run single to left that broke the scoreless tie. Foster followed with an RBI single to left that put the Huskies ahead 3-0.
A JMU rally fell short in the ninth. Josh Wyatt was hit by a pitch to start the frame and he moved to second on a groundout. With two out, first baseman Matt Tenaglia broke up the shutout with an RBI single to right. However, Berger ended the threat by fanning Kevin Husum to end the game.
The pitching battle took just 1:48 to complete.