HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison baseball couldn’t overcome an early three-run deficit, eventually falling, 11-5, to Texas State in the series opener on Friday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Park.
 
The Dukes dropped to 13-9, 1-3 Sun Belt and have fallen in their last three games. The Bobcats improved to 13-9, 3-1 Sun Belt.
 
Junior Jason Schiavone led the Dukes at the plate with his third multi-hit game in the last four games, going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Sophomore Jaden Kinsler got the start for JMU and went three innings, giving up six runs (five earned).
 
How It Happened
Second Inning
Texas State had back-to-back innings of three runs, scoring in three straight plate appearances for the first runs. With runners on the corners, a double brought the first run home and was followed by a run-scoring groundout and then a throwing error that allowed a run to score.
 
JMU responded with two of their own runs to make it 3-2. Junior Ryan Dooley led off with a triple and came home the next pitch on a Coleman Calabrese double. Schiavone then singled back up the middle to score Calabrese who moved to third on a grounder.
 
Third Inning
A two-run homer and a single scored three runs for the Bobcats to make it 6-2.
 
Fourth Inning
The Dukes cut the deficit to one again with three runs in the fourth. After loading the bases, a double play brought one run home. Back-to-back singles from sophomore Mike Mancini and junior Fenwick Trimble scored two more runs and made it 6-5.
 
Eighth Inning
A fielding error that would’ve ended the inning with bases loaded allowed two runs to score and up the Texas State lead to 8-5.
 
Ninth Inning
Three more runs were scored to cement the lead by Texas State, scoring runs on a double, a sacrifice fly and a single to make it 11-5.
 
Game Notes

• Jason Schiavone recorded multiple hits for the third time in a four-game span. He is also on a four-game hitting streak and has at least one RBI in each of the last four games.
• Seven of the nine starters for JMU recorded a hit.

 
Up Next
The Dukes and Bobcats meet in game two of the series on Saturday, March 23 at Veterans Memorial Park for a 4 p.m. first pitch.