HARRISONBURG, Va. – Sophomore JP Woodward allowed just two hits in six innings of work, but James Madison bested the Lafayette baseball team, 5-3, on Friday afternoon at Eagle Field.
 
Woodward retired the final eight batters he faced and struck out seven Dukes while allowing just two earned runs in his second start of 2019. His only blemishes came in the third inning where he allowed all three of his runs.
 
The Leopards answered in the fifth, as sophomore Colin Hartey opened the inning reaching base on a walk and eventually came around to score on a first and third steal with two outs. Classmate Trey Durrah then roped a base hit to right center to bring home senior Dan Leckie, but was thrown out trying to stretch it to a double to end the inning.
 
Lafayette threatened again in the seventh as Hartey reached on an error to lead off the inning, stole second and third, but was left stranded 90 feet from the plate.
 
JMU was able to tack on two more in the home half of the seventh on four hits. The Dukes threatened again in the eighth, but senior David Giusti came on to produce a double play to end the scare.
 
 Sophomore Michael Landry reached to open the ninth on a hit by pitch and sophomore Hunter Silvernail was able to drive him home on a two-out hard hit ball that was misplayed by the first baseman to close the gap. The tying run got to the plate, but did not get further as the Dukes were able to retire the side in the ninth.
 
The three-game series will now conclude on Sunday with a double header due to weather. First pitch of the first game is scheduled for noon with the second game to follow to conclude the series. 

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