The JMU Dukes jumped on the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns early and never looked back, securing the 5-1 victory on Saturday to win the rubber match of the three-game series.
The Dukes didn’t trail at any point in this game, getting off to a fast start with strong hitting. Louisiana only scored one run, but did have chances to score with multiple runners left on base throughout the game, they just couldn’t take advantage of the opportunities.
JMU began the scoring in the first inning with Reece Moody hitting a single to second base, allowing Kyle Langley to run in for the score. Ike Schmidly followed it up with a single to right field and tried to stretch the hit to a double, but was out. He still picked up multiple RBIs as Moody and Clay Thompson crossed home. The Dukes ended the inning with a 3-0 lead.
Neither team could get on the scoreboard for the next several innings, but that didn’t stop tensions from flaring. At the top of the fourth inning, Louisiana’s head coach Matt Deggs and junior outfielder Maddox Mandino were ejected from the game. Mandino made contact with the first baseman for JMU, and the umpire ruled it malicious contact.
As the crew was reviewing the play, Deggs shared words with the Dukes’ dugout and charged towards them. He was subsequently ejected as he was still yelling in their direction. Afterwards, both teams were issued warnings.
After six scoreless innings, Louisiana finally got on a run in the seventh when Mark Collins hit a double towards left field and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Lee Amedee, cutting the deficit to 3-1.
JMU put the game out of reach in the eighth inning, starting with Moody getting hit by a pitch and then stealing second before Ryan Gocio walking to first. Conner Worth delivered a two-run double to left field as Moody and Gocio extended the lead to 5-1.
JMU ended the game in the ninth with multiple strikeouts and a pop-up, winning it 5-1.
While the Dukes went seven innings without recording a run, they leaned on good pitching during that stretch. Louisiana recorded only five hits during the game and had five strikeouts.
The Dukes earned the series victory after dropping the opener 5-4.
James Madison improves to .500 for both overall record (15-15) and conference record (6-6). Louisiana falls to 19-13 but continue to struggle against the Sun Belt, now 4-8.
The Dukes will be on the road for the next week, first traveling to Charlottesville to face the Virginia Cavaliers. Their next Sun Belt series will be in Atlanta against the Georgia State Panthers.
Louisiana will face Southeastern Louisiana in its next game before returning home for a series against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles.
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