Dukes even series

From electronic and staff reports
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GREENVILLE — Visiting James Madison took a 5-2 win Saturday afternoon over host East Carolina to even the season-opening series at one game apiece.

The deciding game is scheduled for 1 p.m. today at Clark-LeClair Stadium with ECU right-hander Tyler Bolton scheduled to start against Dukes righty Patrick Toohers.

Bolton was 0-2 with a 7.36 earned run average in 2013 while Toohers was 3-8 with an 8.49 ERA.

JMU's Tyler McFarland led off the game with a single off of ECU's David Lucroy on Saturday. He moved to second on a walk to Chad Carroll. McFarland came home for a 1-0 Dukes lead when Matt Tenaglia was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

The Pirates got two runs back in the bottom of the first. Dylan Brown walked and Drew Reynolds singled before Zach Houchins hit into a double play that left Brown at third. Ian Townsend had an RBI single to left on a full count pitch to tie the score. Townsend scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch after a single by Luke Lowery.

The Dukes went ahead to stay with a three-run second inning.

Kyle Weston singled through the right side and Bobby San Martin moved him to second with a sacrifice bunt. Carroll, Conner Brown and Tenaglia had consecutive hits with two out for a 4-2 JMU lead.

LuCroy (0-1) went two innings, allowing six hits, four runs (all earned) with two walks and two strikeouts. Brett Mabry gave the Pirates five solid innings in relief, allowing an unearned run in the fifth while fanning four and walking one.

Reynolds, Houchins and Townsend had two hits each for ECU, which outhit the Dukes, 11-9. JMU was errorless while the Pirates had a pair of fielding miscues. The Dukes turned three double plays. ECU catcher Travis Watkins had three passed balls.

Chris Huffman (1-0) scattered eight hits over five innings for the win. He struck out seven and walked two. Trent Cundiff went the final 1 2/3 for the save.

ECU left 11 runners on base.

PAGE UPDATED 02/16/14 07:25 AM.

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