RALEIGH, N.C. (JMU Athletics) – James Madison pitcher Donovan Burke tossed 6.2 shutout innings of relief and sophomore Mike Mancini provided all the offense with a pair of solo shots to help the Dukes blank South Carolina, 2-0, on Saturday afternoon at Dail Park and advance to the finals of the Raleigh Regional.

The Dukes improved to 36-24 and rebounded from losing the opening game of the regional to the Gamecocks on a walk-off, while the Gamecocks ended their season at 37-25.

Mancini led at the plate for JMU by going 2-for-4 and recording his first career multi-homer game. Burke improved to 7-2 on the year, striking out seven over the 6.2 innings. He becomes the first Duke since 2014 to eclipse 90 innings pitched on the season.

How It Happened
First Inning
Mancini came out on top of a nine-pitch at bat, taking a pitch over the right field wall to put JMU out front 1-0.

Third Inning
Burke entered the game with one out and two on but struck out SC’s Cole Messina and Ethan Petry flew out to get out of the jam.

Fifth Inning
South Carolina once again put two on with just one down, but once again Burke used a strikeout and a flyout to retire the side.

Sixth Inning
Petry led off for the Gamecocks with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Burke composed himself and induced a groundout and back-to-back strikeouts to keept South Carolina off the board.

Eighth Inning
With one down, Mancini added an insurance run by going the other way for his second long ball of the day and a 2-0 JMU lead.

Game Notes
• This is the first regional final JMU has advanced to since making it to the finals of the Chapel Hill Regional in 2011.
• JMU is up to 55 sacrifice hits this season, tying the program single-season record.
• Two double plays were turned by the Dukes, increasing their season total to 58 which is the most turned by JMU since 58 in 2011.

Up Next
The Dukes will be the home team in the regional final against tenth-seeded and 11th-ranked NC State later Sunday at 6:00 p.m. at Dail Park.

— JMU Athletics —