Strong start continues for JMU

Baseball

Chris Labzda / senior photographer The Diamond Dukes split their Saturday doubleheader with Bucknell JMU scored 16 runs on 16 hits in the first game, while blasting five home runs.

On a day in which swirling winds blowing out to left field resembled Chicago's Wrigley Field more than JMU's Long Field/Mauck Stadium, the Diamond Dukes' offense exploded for 16 runs on 16 hits and five home runs in a 16-10 win over Bucknell University Saturday.

On a few of the five home runs during the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, the ferocious winds turned what looked to be routine fly balls into towering shots over the fence.

Although several players turned in strong performances at the plate, junior right fielder Mike Butia stood out the most. Butia went 4 for 5 at the plate, including hitting a deep home run to straight-away center field. Butia ended the first game of the doubleheader a double short of hitting for the cycle.

After rebounding from a 2-10 performance in last weekend's series against Longwood University, Butia said he started hitting the ball well.

"I just felt a lot more comfortable at the plate today," Butia said. "It was one of those days where you see it (the ball) well and you don't think you can get out. I was just in a groove."

Although Bucknell center fielder Kyle Walter's solo home run in the first inning put the Bison on the board first, the Diamond Dukes exploded for 14 runs in the first four innings, chasing out Bucknell's starting pitcher, Kevin Miller. JMU pounded Miller for 11 runs (8 of them earned) on nine hits in three and a third innings of work.

The Diamond Dukes' scoring barrage started in the first inning when sophomore first baseman Mitchell Moses had his fly ball carried over the left-field fence by the wind, to put JMU ahead, 3-1.

With the game tied at 3 going into the home half of the third, the Diamond Dukes utilized three-run home runs by sophomore third baseman Nate Schill and freshman shortstop Davis Stoneburner to blow the game open and take a commanding 9-3 lead. JMU coach Spanky McFarland attributed the Diamond Dukes' success at the plate partly to the live pitching faced during batting practice this week.

"I think it's the fact that we've been able to get outside all week and hit some pitching," McFarland said. "We're getting our timing down, and the wind blowing out helped a few of those balls get out."

The Diamond Dukes didn't stop in the fourth inning as Butia and red-shirt freshman catcher Dan Santobianco each hit home runs to straight-away center field to account for 5 more runs in the fourth inning.

The 5 runs put the Diamond Dukes up by a score of 14-3 and turned the early game of the daytime doubleheader into a blowout.

Santobianco, who also hit a game-tying home run in game two, talked about his ability to see the ball and the gusts of wind blowing outward throughout the day.

"My first home run, I think the wind definitely helped it get over," Santobianco said. "I was seeing the ball real well [during batting practice], and today just felt better than most."

With Saturday's weather conditions favoring the hitters, it took a strong performance and smart game plan on the hands of JMU starting junior right-handed pitcher Brian Leatherwood to keep the Bison in check.

After surrendering 3 runs in the first two innings, Leatherwood held Bucknell to one single and no runs in five total innings on the way to picking up his second win of the season.

McFarland continually praised Leatherwood's mental toughness, which was needed to pitch on such a windy day, especially considering JMU's inability to scout opponents this early in the season.

"A lot of times, when you play a team like this early in the year, you really don't have anything to go by as far as how to pitch [to other] guys," McFarland said. "I think in both games we made some adjustments and started to shut them down better."

After pulling Leatherwood, McFarland turned to freshman left-handed pitcher Jacob Cook. Cook was solid in his first two innings of relief until a shaky eighth inning, when the Bison put up 5 runs to pull the score to 16-10.

Cook settled down to retire the final batter of the eighth and turn the ball over to freshman right-handed pitcher Bobby Lasko for a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

During the second half of the twin bill, the Diamond Dukes fell by a score of 6-5 in a seven-inning contest. Key errors and the inability to sustain the offensive momentum gained from game one cost the Diamond Dukes, Mcfarland said. Bucknell pitcher Matt Daley went the distance for the Bison and picked up his first win of the season.

JMU beat Bucknell 16-6 Sunday afternoon, claiming the season series, 2-1. The Diamond Dukes will next travel to Charlottesville to play a nonconference game against the University of Virginia. The first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.