Story Links
March 26, 2003
HARRISONBURG, Va. (3/26/03) – Junior left-hander Joe Koshansky (Fairfax, Va./Chantilly) scattered six hits and struck out five as Virginia completed a season series sweep of James Madison with a 5-4 final on a wet Wednesday afternoon at Long Field.
The Cavaliers beat the Dukes for a third time this season while winning their sixth straight and improving to 15-8. JMU fell to 13-10 and is 2-3 after an 11-game winning streak. This was the first time in the history of the series, which dates back to 1972, that the two schools have met three times in the same season. Prior to this season, JMU had won six straight in the series, dating back to the 2000 season.
Koshansky upped his record to 3-0 with seven innings of work. He gave up three earned runs and walked two. Junior right-hander Canon Hickman (Mechanicsville, Va./Atlee) gave up a run on a pair of ninth-inning hits, but left the tying run at second base to gain his third save.
Freshman third baseman Ryan Zimmerman (Virginia Beach, Va./Kellam) went 2-for-5 and drove in one run for the Cavaliers. Senior center fielder Chris Sweet (Houston, Texas/Stratford) and senior first baseman Eric Christensen (Konxville, Tenn./West) each added a pair of hits. Christensen hit his first homer of the season, a solo shot that gave the Cavs a 4-2 lead in the fourth inning.
JMU’s sophomore right fielder Mike Butia (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) also homered in the fourth. His fourth homer of the season, all within the last seven games, was part of a 2-for-4 effort.
The Cavaliers pushed the lead to 5-3 in the eighth by scoring their second unearned run of the day. Christensen led off with a single up the middle and advanced to second two outs later when sophomore shortstop Mark Reynolds (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial) walked. A wild pitch enabled both runners to move up, and on the play JMU freshman catcher Matt Sluder (Mechanicsville, Va./Lee-Davis) attempted a throw to second to possibly catch Reynolds. However, Sluder lost his footing on the slick, muddy surface and his throw ended up in shallow right field, allowing Christensen to trot home.
Butia started a two-out rally for the Dukes in the bottom of the ninth. He doubled to left and scored when freshman pinch-hitter Mitchell Moses (Richmond, Va./Mills Godwin) slapped a 1-2 pitch up the middle. Senior pinch-runner Justin Ruffin (Virginia Beach, Va./Tallwood) stole second base, but that was as far as he would get as junior left fielder Alan Lindsey (Mechanicsville, Va./Lee-Davis) grounded out to second.
Senior right-hander Rick McKernan (Newport News, Va./Woodside) took the loss for the Dukes. He gave up four runs, three were earned, on seven hits and four walks. He fanned four.
Senior left-hander Jake Gaiser (Herndon, Va./Oakton) worked 2 1/3 innings of two-hit relief. He struck out a pair of batters to stymie a Virginia rally in the sixth. He finished with four strikeouts and a pair of walks and allowed no earned runs.
Virginia will return to action on March 28-30 when UVa hosts the Maryland Terrapins in a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series. Virginia will face Maryland on Friday, March 28th at 7:00 PM, Saturday, March 29th at 7:00 PM and Sunday, March 30th at 1:00 PM. All three games will be played at Davenport Field at the UVa Baseball Stadium.