HATTIESBURG, Miss. – James Madison fell in the series finale to Southern Miss on Sunday afternoon in a run-ruled 15-2 decision at Pete Taylor Park in Sun Belt Conference baseball.

The Dukes drop to 20-15, 5-8 SBC while the Golden Eagles improve to 22-12, 10-5 SBC.

Junior Ryan Murphy made his ninth start of the season for JMU and went an inning plus and gave up five runs with one strikeout. At the plate, redshirt senior Kyle Novak led the way by going 1-for-3 with an RBI.

Niko Mazza earned the win for USM with five strikeouts in five innings.

How It Happened
First Inning
JMU struck first, using a double by sophomore Fenwick Trimble to get a runner on before Novak singled him in for a 1-0 lead.

Southern Miss scored three runs in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly, a bases loaded walk and then an infield single to take a 3-1 lead.

Second Inning
The Golden Eagles doubled their lead in the second with a pair of singles and a fielder’s choice to make it 6-1.

Third Inning
A three-run homer by Slade Wilks was followed by a solo shot from Christopher Sargent to extend the USM lead to 10-1.

Fifth Inning
For the second time in the game, Wilks and Sargent would go back-to-back with homers. Wilks hit a grand slam before Sargent’s solo homer to make it 15-1.

Seventh Inning
The Dukes added a run on a fielder’s choice as freshman Aidan McDonald pinched hit and drew a walk to lead off the inning before coming around to score and make it 15-2.

Up Next
The Dukes will be back on the diamond on Wednesday, April 19 as they travel to Maryland for a 6:30 p.m. tilt.
— JMU Athletics —