WILMINGTON, North
Carolina - Andrew Cain collected four hits and Thomas Pope and Drew Farber
each added three as UNCW overcame an early deficit for a 10-7 win over visiting
James Madison on Friday in Colonial Athletic Association baseball action at
brooks Field.
The Seahawks, who set season-highs in runs (10) and hits
(14), ran their record to 4-9 while the Dukes dropped to 5-8-1. It was the
conference opener for both programs. JMU was the preseason favorite to win the
league while the Seahawks were picked second.
Cain, who had three hits earlier in the week against Coastal
Carolina, raised his season average to .349 with his career-high tying four-hit
game. He also added three runs batted in and scored twice. Pope, meanwhile,
knocked in four runs and extended his hitting streak to seven games. He's now
hitting. 360 on the season.
UNCW starter Tyler McSwain (2-2) earned the win, but allowed
seven runs, six earned, in six innings, He struck out five.
JMU built a 5-0 lead after three and a half innings behind a
home run by Evan Scott in the third and a RBI double by Ryan Kilmon in the
fourth, an inning where the Dukes plated three runs for a five-run advantage.
The Seahawks, however, plated four runs in the fourth and
four more in the fifth to take an 8-5 lead. Pope supplied the big hit in both
outburst with a two-run triple in the fourth and a two-run single in the fifth
off JMU starter Sean Tierney (2-2). Tierney lasted 4 2/3 innings, allowing
eight runs on seven hits and four walks.
JMU answered in the sixth with two runs on a RBI ground out
by Kilmon and a RBI single by Scott, who finished with two hits and three RBI,
to make it 8-7.
UNCW added single runs in the sixth and eighth innings to
complete the scoring.
Jack Lane pitched the final 1 2/3 innings for his first
career save.
The top four hitters in the JMU lineup combined to go
1-for-18 on the afternoon. The next three hitters of Colby Roberts, Chad
Carroll and Cole McInturff each had two hits.
The series continues on Saturday with a 2 p.m. start.
