Walk-Off Single Lifts JMU Past NU, 3-2
Rob Washburn
BOXSCORE CAA CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. (May 25, 2016) – Senior Kyle Weston’s RBI single to left in the bottom of the ninth gave fourth-seeded James Madison a 3-2 victory over #5 Northeastern in the opening game of the 2016 CAA Baseball Championship on Wednesday afternoon at the Ballpark at Patriots Point.
The Dukes (24-29) advance to face top-seeded UNCW at Noon on Thursday, while the Huskies (29-26) will return to action at 7 p.m. tonight in an elimination game against the loser of today’s second game between Elon and College of Charleston.
With the game tied at 2-2 in the ninth, JMU’s Brett Johnson singled up the middle off NU closer Mike Fitzgerald and Kyle McPherson drew a walk. Following a failed sacrifice attempt, Weston delivered a liner through the left side that brought McPherson home from second and completed a late-game rally.
JMU was limited to one hit through the first six innings by Northeastern starting pitcher Dustin Hunt, but was able to break through in the seventh. Trailing 2-0, Chad Carroll had a leadoff single to left and stole second. With one out, Hunt was unable to control a spinning grounder back to the mound by McPherson and an errant throw to third allowed Carroll to score. An RBI single to left scored McPherson with the tying run.
Northeastern took a 2-0 advantage in the fourth. Cam Hanley opened the frame with a single up the middle and a double off the left-field wall by Josh Treff put a pair of runners in scoring position. First baseman Jake Farrell followed with a two-run single to right.
Reliever Michael Evans (5-1) earned the victory for JMU after allowing just one hit over two shutout innings, while Fitzgerald (3-4) took the loss. Hunt was dominant early, facing the minimum 15 batters over the first five frames, but didn’t get a decision despite giving up only four hits over 7.0 innings and fanning seven. JMU starter Aaron Hoover was touched for 10 hits in 6.2 innings, but only gave up a pair of runs.
NU out-hit the Dukes, 11-6, with Hanley, Treff, Farrell and David Hopkins each contributing two hits. JMU had six singles on the afternoon, with nobody getting more than one.