Dukes Deal Loss To Radford Baseball

HARRISONBURG, Va.--Junior right fielder Mike Butia’s 15th homer of the season triggered a seven-run fifth inning that propelled James Madison to 9-7 non-conference baseball win against visiting Radford Wednesday afternoon at Long Field. The Dukes, winners in four of the last five, upped their overall record to 23-13. The Highlanders have dropped four of five and slipped to 16-18 overall. (Box Score)

Butia’s blast came with sophomore third baseman Michael Cowgill on base and pulled the Dukes to within 4-3. The game was tied by sophomore first baseman Matt Bristow’s run-scoring single. Freshman center fielder Brandon Bowser drove in the go-ahead run with an infield out. Following a double steal with two outs, sophomore left fielder Skyler Doom singled to center field to plate two more runs. Freshman shortstop Davis Stoneburner capped the rally with an RBI double. The Dukes’ offensive outburst made a winner of freshman Ryan Lobban. The left-hander quieted the Highlander bats for 3 1/3 innings of three-hit relief, allowing one run, walking none and fanning five. The Dukes used a different pitcher in each of the last three frames. Freshman right-hander Travis Risser hurled a perfect ninth to earn his fifth save of the season.

The Highlanders built a 4-1 lead after their third offensive inning. Junior second baseman Alan Ashworth and junior left fielder Kellen Wohlford each had first-inning RBI singles. Junior designated hitter Mark Fleisher clubbed his team-best ninth homer, a two-run shot, in the third.

The Highlanders crept back as senior catcher Dean Altavilla and senior shortstop Stuart Ritchie hit solo homers in the fifth and sixth innings, respectively, and Ashworth pulled the Highlanders to within 8-7 with an eighth-inning sacrifice fly. Bowser drove in an insurance run for the Dukes in the eighth with a two-out single.

Cowgill led the Dukes with a game-high three hits while Stoneburner, Bristow, Doom and freshman designated hitter Dan Santobianco added two each.

Ashworth, Ritchie, Fleisher, Altavilla and sophomore first baseman John Vellines had two each for the Highlanders.