Dukes Down Radford With a Five-Run Eighth Inning in Home Opener, 7-3

Harrisonburg, Va.   –   James Madison Baseball downs Radford University in home opener with a five-run eighth inning at Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park Tuesday afternoon, 7-3.

JMU secured its first win of the season, now sitting at 1-3 (0-0 SBC) while RU moves to 1-3 (0-0 Big South). The Dukes grab the win in the first of their eight game homestand for the fourth straight home opening win.

The Dukes’ win was led by freshman Reece Moody going 3-for-4 with his first collegiate hit being a triple in the fifth inning. Along with the triple, Moody had two runs scored, and two RBI’s. Graduate Student Corey Dowdell put James Madison ahead with a two-run home run off the centerfield lightpost to start off the rally in the fifth inning,

How it happened

First inning - RU 1, JMU 0

• RU grabbed an early lead after the first pitch of the game was lined out to left center for a triple by Jhonkeanu Perez, who was then knocked in with a sacrifice groundout to the second baseman from Hunter Keen.

Second inning - RU 2, JMU 0

• The Highlanders’ Noah Toole reached on a fielder’s choice and was able to advance to second on a failed pickoff attempt. Toole was batted in by an RBI single up the middle by Eli Hudgins.

Fourth inning - RU 2, JMU 1

• With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, sophomore Ike Schmidly doubled to left and was brought home with an RBI single from fellow sophomore Kyle Langley to get the Dukes on the board.

Fifth inning - JMU 2, RU 2

• Moody rocketed his first collegiate hit into right center for a triple to put the tying run within 90 feet. Moody scored on a fielding error from the second baseman to put the Dukes and Highlanders even heading into the sixth.

Seventh inning - RU 3, JMU 2

• Keen took advantage of an early walk with a double to right center to send home Corbin Grantham to regain the lead.

Eighth inning - JMU 7, RU 3

• The Dukes started off the eighth with a hit-by-pitch for senior Ryan Dooley. After a groundout, Dowdell’s at-bat resulted in a go-ahead two-run home run launched into center.
• A pair of walks drawn by Schmidly and junior Jack Cannizzaro followed by a double steal to get into scoring position, Moody singled to left resulting in two more RBIs on the day.
• The scoring rally ended with an RBI single from junior Wyatt Peifer, scoring Moody and giving James Madison a four-run cushion going to the top of the ninth.

Ninth inning - JMU 7, RU 3

• RU started the ninth with a single before redshirt junior Tyler Muscar locked in the win with three outs following the led batter.

Game Notes

• With the win today, Dukes lead the overall series history 29-25-1, clinching the last four.
• Moody got his first collegiate hit today, went 3-3 (3 hits, 2 runs, 2 RBI).
• James Madison has won the last four home openers dating back to 2022.
• JMU successfully stole six bases in the win, pushing them to 10-11 on the season.

Up Next
James Madison continues the homestand with their series against Canisius (0-0, 0-0 MAAC). The first game of the three-game series will take place on Friday, Feb. 21 at Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park. The first pitch is scheduled for 3 pm; listen along on the Varsity Network App.