HARRISONBURG, VA. – Costly errors led to big innings as the James Madison Dukes snapped the Elon Phoenix’s eight-game Colonial Athletic Association winning streak in a 13-10 contest at Veterans Memorial Park on Friday night.
Nick Zammarelli went 4-for-5 with three runs scored and one RBI, finishing a home run shy of the cycle, to pace Elon (20-23, 10-8 CAA) at the plate. Tyler McVicar drove in three runs with a 2-for-5 performance and Will Nance homered in a 2-for-3 game.
Kyle Mcpherson doubled, scored twice and drove in a pair during a 3-for-5 night to lead the Dukes (18-24, 8-8).
Chris Hall (2-2) took the loss after being charged with three runs (two earned) on three hits in just 0.1 inning of work. Five Phoenix errors led to four unearned runs.
The win went to Christian Leckert (4-0) who threw 1.1 scoreless innings and struck out two. Ben Garner picked up his seventh save and struck out three.
How It Happened: With the game all square at five after six innings, Elon went on top 10-5 with a five-run seventh. The Phoenix loaded the bases with a Nance single, walk and Ogren single. Zammarelli then drove home one with a single to center. McVicar followed with a single to center that was misplayed, allowing all four runners to score.
The Dukes came right back in the bottom of the seventh, trimming the Elon lead to 10-9. Mcpherson drove home the first with a double to left. A sacrifice fly scored the second JMU run of the frame before Tyler Carroll’s two-out single up the middle drove home a pair.
JMU made the Phoenix pay for a pair of errors in the eighth, scoring four more runs to take the 13-10 lead. The frame began with a walk and sacrifice bunt. After an infield single put runners on the corners, a wild pitch allowed the tying run to cross the plate. With runners on second and third, Zach Tondi singled home two to give the Dukes their first lead of the night. The final run scored on an Elon error.
The maroon and gold would put runners on the corners with one out in the top of the ninth before Garner struck out the next two Phoenix hitters to end the game.
Notes: The loss snapped Elon’s five-game winning streak overall… For the third time this season, Zammarelli recorded at least four hits.
On Deck: Elon and James Madison will play game two of the series at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 30.