HARRISONBURG, Va. (JMU Athletics) – James Madison baseball snapped a seven-game losing streak by opening Sun Belt Conference play with a 10-4 win over ULM on Friday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Park. Due to forecasted weather for Sunday, the two teams will play in a doubleheader on Saturday, March 15.

The Dukes moved to 6-11 (1-0 SBC) and picked up its first win in the month of March, while the Warhawks dropped to 8-9 (0-1 SBC).

Graduate Corey Dowdell led the Dukes at the plate with a 2-for-3 effort, including a run scored, two doubles and three RBIs. Sophomore Jackson Logar evened his season record to 2-2, going 5.2 innings on the mound to start for JMU and striking out five while allowing eight baserunners.

How It Happened
Second Inning
With runners on the corners, JMU struck first on a squeeze bunt from junior Jack Cannizzaro to make it 1-0. Two batters later, Dowdell hit a double the other way to plate freshman Reece Moody and make it a 2-0 game.

Fifth Inning
Senior Ryan Dooley’s first sacrifice fly of the game extended the Dukes’ lead to three after junior Maddux Fleck singled, stole second and moved to third on a failed pickoff attempt.

Sixth Inning
ULM got on the board with a run from a ground-rule double after back-to-back walks put a pair on, making the score 3-1.

JMU responded with a five-run inning, beginning with Dowdell’s second double of the day, a ground-rule double to score two. Back-to-back singles from Fleck and senior Eli Steadman plated a run each before Dooley capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly, making it 8-1.

Seventh Inning
Tony Lindwedel sent the first pitch of the seventh inning over the left-field wall to cut the ULM deficit to 8-2.

A quick response came from the Dukes again, as senior Coleman Calabrese singled up the middle to drive in a run and extend the lead back to seven at 9-2.

Eighth Inning
The Dukes hit double-digits in runs for the second time this season as a fielding error in the infield allowed pinch runner Colin Richter to score from second base and make it 10-2.

Ninth Inning
ULM knocked in a pair of two-out runs to close the gap at 10-4, but a groundout to third ended the game.

Game Notes
• The Dukes were the first team to score in a game for the second time this season.
• Ryan Dooley became the first Duke since Fenwick Trimble against George Mason on Feb. 23, 2022 to record two sacrifice flies in the same game.
• Since joining the Sun Belt ahead of the 2023 season, JMU won its league opener for the first time.
• JMU recorded at least 10 hits in a game for the third time this year, hitting 11 base knocks.

Up Next
Due to forecasted inclement weather on Sunday, the Dukes and Warhawks will conclude their series tomorrow, March 15 in a doubleheader at Veterans Memorial Park beginning at 1 p.m., with game two to follow 40 minutes after the conclusion of game one.

— JMU Athletics —