Feb. 24, 2006
HARRISONBURG, Va. - James Madison scored four times in the bottom of the fifth inning to propel the Dukes to a 13-4 win over the Fairfield University baseball team, in the Stags season opener at Long Field at Mauk Stadium on Friday afternoon.
Travis Miller (1-1) gave James Madison (1-4) six strong innings, as he gave up one-run on three hits, while striking out nine Fairfield hitters. Miller retired the first nine hitters he faced before junior second baseman Brian Schappert (Wycoff, N.J./Saint Joseph's University) singled in the bottom of the third inning.
Fairfield (0-1) graduate student, Paul DeMarco (Honeoye Falls, N.Y./Duke University) made his first start for the Stags after transferring from Duke. DeMarco (0-1) was touched for five runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks in four innings of work.
He was in control early as he retired seven of the first eight hitters he faced. But, with two outs in the bottom of the third, JMU leadoff hitter David Stoneburner laid down a bunt single. Then centerfielder Kellen Kulbacki singled to centerfield, bringing second baseman Michael Cowgill to the plate. Cowgill laced a double to right to make it 2-0 James Madison.
The Stags would answer in the top of the fourth inning as Schappert's infield single gave the Stags their first base runner of the afternoon. He would later steal second, and move to third, when the JMU shortstop dropped the throw from the catcher. Schappert scored when senior catcher Tom Arpino grounded out to shortstop.
JMU scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, off a bases-loaded double down the right field line from Kulbacki. In the fifth, the Dukes put four runs on the board off run-scoring base hits from Mitchell Moses, Stoneburner, and Kulbacki.
After putting a run on the board in the sixth inning, James Madison put two more on the board in the seventh, when Cowgill smacked his first homerun of the season.
In the top of the ninth Fairfield would cross the plate three times, thanks to a two-run double from sophomore designated hitter Peter Allen (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck). Allen doubled to left centerfield, bringing in sophomore Albie DeSimone (Pelham, N.Y./Pelham Memorial), and sophomore Patrick Hoban (Malvern, Pa./Malvern Prep). Allen would later come around to score when sophomore Tyler Birrittella (Tarrytown, N.Y./Sleepy Hollow) reached on a fielder's choice.
Schappert reached base three times as he finished the afternoon 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored, and a stolen base. Allen was 1-for-3 with two runs batted in and a run scored. Senior John Scaife (Ansonia, Conn./Ansonia), senior Doug Anderson (Randolph, N.J./Delbarton), DeSimone, and sophomore Adam Chilelli (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) each had base hits for the Stags.
The teams will continue the series on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. Junior Ed Kamintzky will take the ball for the Stags, while Greg Nesbitt will go for James Madison.
