HARRISONBURG, VA -- Freshman third baseman Alex Buchholz (Old Mill/Millersville, MD - at right) clouted a school-record tying three home runs for the University of Delaware, but host James Madison rallied from a 4-0 deficit and scored the game-winner with two outs in the ninth inning to pick up a 6-5 Colonial Athletic Association baseball victory over the Blue Hens at Long/Mauck Field Saturday afternoon.

Delaware, which dropped a 15-5 verdict to James Madison in the series opener Friday afternoon, will look to salvage a win in the three-game CAA opening set Sunday at 1 p.m.

The Blue Hens (9-4, 0-2 CAA) jumped out to a 4-0 lead thanks to Buchholz’ three home runs, but James Madison, ranked No. 30 in this week’s Collegiate Baseball Division I poll, scored four runs in the seventh inning and added the game-winner in the ninth inning when centerfielder Kellen Kulbacki stroked a run-scoring single with two outs to end the game.

The Dukes (15-4, 5-0 CAA) extended their winning streak to 15 games as shortstop Davis Stoneburner knocked in three runs and Brett Sellers and Nate Schill each collected two hits.

It was an historic day for Buchholz, who became the first true freshman in Delaware history to blast three home runs in a game and just the 11th player overall in school history to accomplish the feat. Brian Wallace hit three home runs vs. George Mason as a redshirt freshman in 1991 while current Texas Rangers outfielder Kevin Mench was the most recent UD player to hit three in a game when he clouted three against Maine during the 1998 season. Buchholz knocked in four runs and accounted for three of the Blue Hens’ 10 hits. Bryan Hagerich and Brent Rogers each contributed two hits for the Hens.

Delaware jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the fifth inning as Buchholz led off the game with a home run, added a solo shot with one out in the third, and belted a two-run homer in the fifth inning to support starter Mike McGuire.

James Madison, which had scored seven or more runs in every game during its current winning streak, finally got on the board in the fifth inning on an RBI single by Schill. The Dukes put four on the board in the seventh inning to go up 5-4 as Sellers had an RBI single and Stoneburner hit a bases loaded double to bring all three runs home and chase McGuire.

The Blue Hens evened things up at 5-5 in the eight inning when Brandon Menchaca led off with a walk, stole second, and moved to third on a balk. He then scored on an RBI single by Ryan Jablonski. JMU reliever Jacob Lasko (1-0) then struck out Dan Kozek to end the threat.

James Madison won the game in the ninth inning off UD reliever Billy Harris (1-3). Pinch-hitter Brett Garner reached first with a one-out single and pinch-runner Matt MacDougall stole second. Harris intentionally walked Matt Bristow but the Hens got the second out when Stoneburner grounded out to shortstop, advancing MacDougall to third and Bristow to second. Kulbacki then came up with the game-winner as he singled home MacDougall to end the game.