On the road again
JMU to travel to 'Big Apple' for next CAA bout
By Brian Hansen, sports editor
Posted on April 20, 2006

The JMU Diamond Dukes will travel to Hempstead, N.Y., this weekend to take on the Pride of Hofstra in a Colonial Athletic Association showdown.

JMU (25-14, 14-4) hopes to take three more conference games and gain ground on conference rival Old Dominion. The Diamond Dukes trail ODU by two games in the conference.

“Every conference game is big,” junior right-hander Travis Miller said. “You can’t take a team lightly or it could hurt you in the end.”

The Pride is certainly one of those teams JMU has to take seriously. Hofstra (14-23-1, 5-13) has struggled this year but will look to enjoy the spoiler role they’ve been playing of late.

Their overall record isn’t very good, but they’re capable of playing some good baseball,” JMU coach Spanky McFarland said. “They’ve been able to steal a couple of games against some guys in our conference.”

The Pride opened the season 0-12 before notching its first win of the season against Dartmouth. But, they have proven a tough team to beat in conference play winning road games at CAA powers UNC-Wilmington and Virginia Commonwealth along with at William & Mary while winning home games against Georgia State and conference leader ODU. 

All three games against the Monarchs were decided by two runs or less including a 12-inning 3-2 loss. 

“They’re always a scrappy team, no matter what their record is,” Miller said. “They play with passion and they play everyone tough.”

Hofstra is coming off a sweep at the hands of Delaware last weekend but rebounded Tuesday with an 8-2 victory against Stony Brook.
“They’re not a team for us to let down on,” senior first baseman Nate Schill said. “We have to go up there and play the game we’re capable of playing.”

The Diamond Dukes enter the series in second place in the division after sweeping George Mason last weekend at home. Madison won that series by doing what it has done so well all season, big hitting and solid pitching.

Sophomore center fielder Kellen Kulbacki hit three home runs in that series to break the previous school record of 18 home runs in a single season. He now has a conference leading 20 home runs to go along with his conference leading 60 RBIs and .480 batting average.  

Kulbacki however may not be available after straining a muscle in yesterday’s 13-10 loss to Richmond at home. 

“He hurt a muscle,” McFarland said. “We’ll keep him out tomorrow and then see about his status for this weekend.”

If Kulbacki can’t play, JMU can lean on two other guys they have in the top five in home runs and RBIs, in senior second baseman Michael Cowgill (18 and 46 respectively) and Schill (11 and 48).

“Our lineup is very strong right now,” Schill said. “Everyone’s picking each other up. No matters who’s in the lineup guys are coming through with big hits.”

On the mound Madison will go with sophomore right-hander Ryan Reid on Friday, senior left-hander Greg Nesbitt on Saturday and Miller on Sunday.

The Diamond Dukes top three starters have been key to keeping them competitive in their weekend series so far this season.

“We feel confident with those guys on the mound,” Schill said. “When they’re on we’re a tough team to beat.”

Reid is 7-2 in nine starts this year with a 2.41 ERA while striking out 83. He leads the team in all three categories. Nesbitt is 5-3 with a 3.45 ERA while leading the team with two complete games on the year. Miller has a 3.67 ERA and is 6-2 on the year.

“Those guys have been really good for us all year,” McFarland said. “They’ll battle and keep us in games.”