JMU edges out Dolphins

Butia, Diamond Dukes come back from 5-run deficit

Kathryn Gariano / staff photographer Red-shirt freshman catcher Dan Santobianco takes a swing during the Diamond Dukes' 13-10 win Saturday over Le Moyne College. The second game was called due to darkness.

The Diamond Dukes rallied from 5 runs down to defeat Le Moyne College, 13-10, Saturday at Long Field/Mauck Stadium.

Coach Spanky McFarland is happy with his teams' effort this season and said, "We're beating the teams we should beat."

In the first four innings, the Dolphins scored 5 runs, shutting out JMU.

But, the Diamond Dukes battled back in the bottom of the fourth.

Junior right fielder Mike Butia led off the inning with a walk. Sophomore third baseman Nate Schill and freshman catcher Dan Santobianco both smacked singles to center field to load the bases.

Butia would score on sophomore catcher Matt Sluder's force out at first. Sophomore left fielder Sean Loso lined out, allowing Sluder to advance to second, and scoring 2 more runs to make it 5-3, still in favor of Le Moyne.

The Dukes continued their rally in the fifth. Sophomore second baseman Michael Cowgill and Butia both singled in the inning. Cowgill stole third base and later scored on a wild pitch.

Schill had a base hit to centerfield, knocking in Butia to tie the game at 5-5.

Schill was thrown out advancing to second base, but Santobianco earned a walk, which enabled him to score on a Sluder double, putting the Dukes on top, 6-5.

The Dolphins scored 2 more runs in the sixth, but JMU rallied again in the bottom of the inning.

Loso led off with a bunt single, stole second and scored on freshman shortstop Davis Stoneburner's single to center field that tied the game at 7.

Stoneburner stole second and advanced to third base on freshman center fielder Brandon Bower's fly out. Stoneburner would score on a wild pitch.

There were two runners on base when Butia stepped to the plate. He smashed a 2-run home run to center field to give the Dukes the 10-7 lead. The home run was his seventh this season.

"I felt pretty good today," Butia said. "I was seeing the ball well and had a good approach at the plate."

The Dolphins brought in a new pitcher following Butia's homer, but the next batter, Schill, doubled and eventually scored to make the score 11-7.

In the Dukes' half of the seventh, Loso, Bowser and Cowgill teamed up for two more insurance runs to push the score to its final of 13-10 in favor of JMU.

Sophomore pitcher Patrick Riley entered the game for the Diamond Dukes in relief of junior right-handed pitcher Brian Leatherwood, who retired the Dolphin batters in the eighth and ninth innings to record his first save of the season.

Leatherwood would earn the win, improving to 5-0 on the year.

"My teammates were definitely playing well behind me and backing me up," Riley said.

Commenting on his team's rally, Butia was pleased.

"We made a good comeback," Butia said.