Posted on March 26, 2006
Junior right-fielder Kellen Kulbacki hit a two-run home run — his second of the day — to spark a four-run sixth inning, as the JMU baseball team came from behind to beat William & Mary 7-6 on Saturday.
The All-American selection a year ago and reigning Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year went 2-for-4 on the day with two home runs and three RBIs. Kulbacki’s first homer of the day came in the fourth inning and was the first hit of the day off freshman right-hander Kevin Landry.
“[The Tribe] is probably our biggest rival in the CAA, and to bounce back from the tough loss we had yesterday was big,” the Palmyra, Pa., native said. “Everyone really contributed today and it was a great win for us.”
The win runs JMU’s record to 7-15 overall and 3-4 in the CAA, while W&M fell to 14-12 overall and 7-4 in the CAA.
For the second day in a row, the Tribe jumped out to an early lead on the Dukes, opening up a 4-0 lead through three innings, after JMU spotted W&M a 3-0 lead in Friday’s series opener.
Designated hitter Tim Park and second baseman Brent McWhorter jump-started the Tribe early as each scored two runs on two hits, including a solo home run for each.
The pair took advantage of mistakes from Dukes starter, freshman right-hander Kyle Hoffman, driving him out of the game in his shortest outing of the season. Hoffman went just 4.1 innings, giving up four earned runs on six hits with five strikeouts.
“We knew coming into the game we were going to have a little more pitching than them,” JMU coach Spanky McFarland said. “Yesterday I went with some of my younger guys [in relief], today I brought [senior left-hander Jacob] Cook in and he did a wonderful job.”
Cook pitched 4.2 innings in relief for Madison, limiting the W&M to just two runs on four hits, while walking none to settle down the Dukes pitching staff.
“I was hitting my spots today,” the Mechanicsville native said. “I located my breaking ball real well and tried to stay ahead of hitters.”
Cook took the win to improve his record to 2-3 while dropping his ERA to 6.52 on the season.
“That was big for us,” the Dukes 10th- year coach said. “He did a great job giving us almost five innings and giving up just two runs.”
Cook did make the game interesting in the top of the ninth, though. After McWhorter hit his second home run of the day to close to within one, third baseman Greg Sexton laced a ball to left field with two outs that would have tied the game had it not gone foul.
“I don’t really know the word for what I was feeling at the point,” Cook said. “All I could really do was just smile.”
Cook fought back to strike out Sexton swinging to end the game.
The winning run came on an unusual play for Madison. With the game tied and runners at second and third, pitcher Warrik Staines, who was in to relieve Landry, was told to intentionally walk sophomore first baseman Lee Bujakowski. On the fourth ball however, Staines’ throw got past catcher Jeff Wera and senior left-fielder Mitchell Moses was able to score on the wild pitch.
Landry took the loss for the Tribe, going 5.1, giving up six runs on five hits, while striking out five and walking four.
The Dukes split the first two games of their three-game series. The rubber match was played yesterday at 1 p.m. at Long Field/Mauck Stadium.
W&M 202 000 011 – 6 10 2
JMU 000 114 10X – 7 7 1
Kevin Landry, Warrik Staines (6), Tyler Truxell (7), John Lawlor (8), Jimmy Drury (8) and Jeff Wera; Kyle Hoffman, Jacob Cook (5) and Dan Santobianco.
Hits: (W&M) 2B – Mike Sheridan, Robbie Nickle; (JMU) Rob Altieri. HR – Tim Park (6), Brent McWhorter 2 (4); (JMU) Kellen Kulbacki 2 (7), Lee Bujakowski (1).
RBIs: (W&M) Brent McWhorter 2, Tim Park, Greg Sexton, Mike Sheridan, Greg Maliniak; (JMU) Kellen Kulback 3, Matt Townsend, Lee Bujakowski, Dan Santobianco.
W – Jacob Cook (2-3), L – Kevin Landry (3-3).
Records: W&M (14-12 overall, 7-4 CAA), JMU (7-15 overall, 3-4 CAA).
