BOONE, N.C. – James Madison baseball took its first lead of the series finale with App State in the eighth inning, but the hosts forced extras before winning, 9-7 in 10 innings, on Sunday afternoon at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium in Sun Belt Conference action.

The Dukes dropped to 24-19, 9-10 SBC while the Mountaineers improved to 21-19, 11-9 SBC.

Junior Ryan Murphy started the game and went 4.1 innings while striking out four. Sophomore Ryan Dooley led JMU at the plate with a career-high four hits, going 4-for-5 with a double and a run scored.

Collin Welch (2-0) earned the win for the Mountaineers with two innings of work.

How It Happened
First Inning
App State struck first in the first with a four spot, as a double scored the first run before the Mountaineers’ leader in home runs, Golston Gillespie, hit a three-run homer for his 12th long ball of the year.

Third Inning
Graduate Jack Cone led off the third with his second homer in as many games to get the Dukes on the board. After a double and a single followed the jack, a sacrifice fly from freshman Mike Mancini pushed a run across. Redshirt senior Kyle Novak doubled to score sophomore Fenwick Trimble to make it a one-run game at 4-3.

The Mountaineers pushed a run across in the home half of the inning after a single knocked in the leadoff batter in Xavier Moronta for a 5-3 lead.

Fourth Inning
A sacrifice fly scored a run for App State to make it 6-3.

Fifth Inning
Redshirt senior Trevon Dabney hit his sixth homer of the season, a solo shot, to get the Dukes within two at 6-4.

Seventh Inning
The Dukes were able to get within one of the Mountaineers once again, scoring on a sacrifice fly to make it 6-5. After redshirt junior Mason Dunaway drew a walk and then Trimble singled, a sacrifice bunt moved both over before Dabney flew out to center field to score Dunaway.

Eighth Inning
JMU took its first lead of the game as Dooley singled before Cone would single for his third hit of the day and advance to second after the throw went to home with Dooley being held at third. Dunaway then stepped up and went the other way with a single to score both runners and give the Dukes a 7-6 lead.

App State tied the game at seven in the home half after a one-out double was followed by a single down the right field line.

10th Inning
Dooley led off the extra frame with a double before moving to third on a sacrifice bunt. After a pair of walks, the Dukes had the bases loaded with two outs but a fly out would end the inning.

JMU was able to get the first two batters out before allowing a double to the Mountaineers. CJ Boyd then walked the game off with a two-run shot to right field for a 9-7 victory.

Game Notes
• For the second straight game, Jack Cone was a triple shy of the cycle.

Up Next
The Dukes continue their road trip with a midweek matchup at No. 13 Virginia on Wednesday, May 3 at 6 p.m.

— JMU Athletics —