Blue Hens Take Down JMU, 5-3, In CAA Opener

Friday, March 22

Harrisonburg, VA

4 p.m.

University of Delaware

5-15, 1-0

JMU

15-8, 0-1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Delaware	0	1	2	0	0	0	1	0	1	5	11	3
James Madison	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	3	8	1

Photo by: Mark Campbell

3/22/2019 8:33:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Conference play is a whole different animal. That goes for any sport, any conference, any level.

The University of Delaware baseball team started its "second" season on the right foot as the Blue Hens took home a 5-3 victory in the opening game of a three-game set at JMU. It's the conference opening series for both teams.

"It certainly feels good to get the conference opener. We pitched our hearts out and got timely hitting in key situations to help us come away with the win tonight," head coach Jim Sherman said. "I'm really happy and proud of this group. They've dealt with a lot of adversity and struggles early in this season, but they've continued to work and get better. We have to stay focused on getting the next game."

For a third straight week, the Blue Hens got a stellar outing from redshirt junior Brandon Walter, who tossed 6.1 innings, allowing just one earned run on six hits, while striking out 10 on the day. He now has allowed just two earned runs in his past 21.1 innings of work. In relief, Winston Allen and Derek Wakeley allowed just two hits in the final 2.2 innings to secure the victory out of the pen.

"I just wanted to come in and keep us in the game and do whatever I needed to do to help the team get a win and really set the tone for conference play for the rest of the year," Walter said. "I've been really trying to get ahead and not making hittable mistakes and I've been able to get into a groove lately."

Senior Kevin Mohollen had his best day of the year, going 3-for-5 with two runs scored at the top of the order, while redshirt sophomore Jordan Hutchins went 3-for-4 with a run scored. Senior Vinny Vacccone had two hits and two RBIs to help lead the scoring attack for the Blue Hens.

"The best part about conference play is that it's almost another season for us. Everything resets to 0-0. We're excited to get the first one, but we have to focus on turning around ang getting right back at it tomorrow. Series wins, especially ones on the road are huge," Mohollen said.

JMU jumped out to an early 1-0 advantage with a leadoff homerun in the bottom of the first. However, Delaware would respond right away with an RBI double from Zack Millerin the top of the second to even the score at 1-1.

The Blue Hens would continue the scoring in the third with Erik Bowren and Hutchins ripping back-to-back singles and two batters later, Vaccone laced a double into right field to plate both runners and give Delaware a 3-1 cushion.

Walter would take over from there, throwing up six straight '0s', while striking out 10 Dukes along the way.

The Blue Hens would add a run in the seventh on a wild pitch, but JMU would rally in the eighth, loading the bases with two outs and plating two runs, but Wakeley got a strikeout to end the threat and preserve the lead.

Joseph Carpenter delivered a huge RBI groundout to provide an insurance run in the top of the ninth, which set the table for a 1-2-3 ninth for Wakeley and the first save of the year for the right-hander.

Up Next

Delaware and JMU continue the three-game set on Saturday with a 4 p.m. first pitch.