COLLEGE PARK, Md. (JMU Athletics) – A two-run homer from Alex Calarco in the seventh inning opened the game for Maryland, as James Madison baseball was downed, 8-4, on Tuesday night at Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium.

The Dukes dropped their third straight game and fell to 5-7, while the Terrapins improved to 7-5 and are winners of four of their last five.

Sophomore Nic Poole homered for the first time in his career to lead the Dukes at the plate, going 1-for-3 with the homer. Senior Casey Smith started on the mound and went an inning, giving up two hits and a run while striking out one.

How It Happened
First Inning
Maryland led off with a single and a double, setting up Hollis Porter to hit a sacrifice fly to bring a run home for a 1-0 lead.

Second Inning
The Dukes tied the game in the next half inning, using a pair of walks and a single to load the bases before Creed Erdos worked a five-pitch walk to bring a run in to make it 1-1.

Fifth Inning
With bases loaded and one out, Maryland broke the one-all tie by scoring a run on a forceout at second base. Calarco then came up and laced a two-run double into left center to cap the three-run inning and give the hosts a 4-1 lead.

Seventh Inning
JMU took a run back as Poole sent the first pitch he saw over the right-center wall for his first career home run and made the score 4-2.

Maryland extended its lead to four as Calarco hit his eighth long ball of the season, a two-run homer, to make it 6-2.

Eighth Inning
Graduate Corey Dowdell got a run back for the Dukes, coming in as a pinch hitter and getting a base knock to score a run and make it 6-3.

A two-run double with the bases loaded added to the Terps’ lead ay 8-3.

Ninth Inning
The Dukes added a run in the ninth, loading the bases before junior Jack Cannizzaro hit a sacrifice fly to make it 8-4.

Game Notes
• With 12 strikeouts, the Dukes tossed their eighth game of at least 10 strikeouts this season. Through 12 games, the pitching staff is averaging 10.3 strikeouts-per-game.
• JMU bridged the second inning to the fourth by striking out six consecutive batters.

Up Next
Staying on the road, JMU heads down to North Carolina for a three-game series at Charlotte on March 7-9. First pitch for Friday’s series opener is scheduled for 4 p.m.

— JMU Athletics —