Diamond Dukes take two from Seahawks

Amy Paterson / photo editor Freshman right-hander Ryan Reid delivers a pitch during JMU's 3-2 win over Wagner College Saturday. Reid struck out eight and gave up two runs in 6 1/3 innings to earn his first collegiate victory.

It’s a good thing Dan Santobianco decided to change his shoes.

For the first time this season, JMU’s sophomore catcher switched back to the cleats he wore in 2004 — the very same spikes he sported while batting .306 with 12 home runs and 39 runs batted a year ago.

This year hasn’t been as kind.

Coming into Saturday’s doubleheader with Wagner College (4-8), the Wilmington, Del. native was hitting .196 with 1 RBI in 12 games.

"I’ve never struggled like this before," Santobianco said. "This was my weekend to turn things around."

Against the visiting Seahawks, Santobianco and his old kicks went 3 for 3 with 2 RBIs in JMU’s 3-2 win in game two. The Diamond Dukes took game one, 5-4 at Long Field/Mauck Stadium.

"I wore them all last year," Santobianco said. "Today’s the first day I’ve had them this year."

In game one, Santobianco went 1 for 2 with a double.

"He hit 12 home runs as a freshman and we’re counting on him to be a staple in the middle of the lineup," JMU coach Spanky McFarland said. "If we are going to do this, this year, he is going to have to hit."

One person who is thrilled with Santobianco’s resurgence is freshman right-handed starting pitcher Ryan Reid.

The 6-foot, 215-lb. Maine native was a direct benefactor of Santobianco’s offense.

Reid, JMU’s starter in game two, cruised through six and two-thirds innings of shutout baseball before running into trouble in the top of seventh when Wagner scored two runs on a single and fielder’s choice. Freshman right-handed reliever Patrick Riley came on and got the final out in the shortened second game of the twin bill.

"I’ve been struggling a little bit," Reid said. "Today, I finally came around and right now, it’s whatever I can do to help the team win."

Reid’s performance Saturday earned him his first collegiate victory while improving his record to 1-1. He struck out eight and relinquished seven hits while yielding two earned runs.

Riley picked up the save — the first of his college career.

"When Ryan keeps the ball down, he’s as good as we’ve got," McFarland said. "He’s a competitor, has a really good arm and is really mature for a freshman."

Reid was handed a lead early when sophomore center fielder Skyler Doom led off JMU’s half of the first inning with his third home run of the year. The solo-shot put the Diamond Dukes (5-10) up 1-0.

Doom is JMU’s leading hitter with a .376 average coming into Saturday’s action.

"I’ve been working on sitting back and letting the ball come to me," Doom said. "I try to go to the opposite field and react to the inside pitch."

Santobianco would tack on two more in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run single down the left field line.

In game one, JMU won in the bottom of the ninth on a sacrifice fly off the bat of freshman left fielder Kellen Kulbacki, which scored junior second baseman Michael Cowgill from third. Sophomore right-hander Travis Risser picked up the win to go to 3-1 for the year.

JMU is two games into a nine-game home stand — the next of which will be Tuesday afternoon when the Diamond Dukes host Ohio University at 2:30 p.m.