HARRISONBURG, VA -- The University of Delaware’s had a tough start to its Colonial Athletic Association schedule Friday afternoon as red-hot host James Madison scored three runs in each of the first three innings and cruised to a 15-5 baseball victory at Long/Mauck Field.

The Dukes, ranked No. 30 in this week’s Collegiate Baseball Division I poll, won their 14th straight game to improve to 14-4 (4-0 CAA) as centerfielder Kellen Kulbacki and second baseman Michael Cowgill each hit two home runs and combined to knock in 11 runs. The Dukes have scored 10 or more runs in 12 of the 14 games during their winning streak.

Delaware, which had won two of its last three games, fell to 9-4 (0-1 CAA) despite clouting four home runs. Todd Davison (at right) extended his hitting streak to 13 games thanks to a two-run homer, his fifth of the season, in the third inning. Brandon Menchaca extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a solo home run in the ninth inning while Bryan Hagerich and Scott Shockley also hit solo home runs.

Cowgill went 3 for 5 with six runs batted in as he hit a solo home run in the second inning, produced a two-run single in the third, and added a three-run home run in the fifth inning and Kulbacki clouted two-run home runs in both the first and seventh innings and added a run-scoring single in the third. The two accounted for six runs scored, seven hits, and 11 RBI to lead a 15-hit attack.

James Madison starter Travis Miller (3-1) scattered six hits and struck out 12 batters to earn the win for the Dukes. Delaware starter Chad Kerfoot (1-1) took the loss after allowing 12 runs on 12 hits and hitting five James Madison batters.

The Dukes wasted little time in taking control of the game as they scored three runs in each of the first three innings. JMU posted back-to-back home runs in the first inning as Kulbacki hit a two-run shot and Cowgill added a solo home run for a 3-0 lead. Delaware cut the deficit to 3-1 on a leadoff homer by Hagerich in the second but JMU answered with three more in the bottom half of the inning on Cowgill’s two-run single and an RBI single by Mitchell Moses.

Davison hit a two-run home run in the third inning to cut the lead to 6-3, but the Dukes came back with another three-run inning in the third highlighted by consecutive run scoring hits by Davis Stoneburner and Kulbacki. James Madison added another three-run inning in the fifth as Cowgill hit his second homer of the day, this one a three-run shot.

The two teams will continue their weekend three-game set with single games starting at 1 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.