Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

Boxscore

HARRISONBURG, Va. - A walk-off solo home run by Brett Garner capped off a two-run rally in the bottom of the ninth by James Madison as the Dukes completed a three-game sweep against the University of Delaware baseball team with a 5-4 victory on Sunday afternoon at Eagle Field.

The ninth-inning setback spoiled a strong start by Brian Rorick (at right), who allowed just three runs while striking out seven in eight innings on the mound for Delaware (20-21, 3-12). He was supported in his efforts by Carlos Alonso, Steve Ulaky, and Pat Dameron, who all tallied two hits for the Hens.

After Rorick stifled James Madison (24-19, 14-4) for most of the game, the Blue Hen bullpen was unable to close out the victory in the ninth. Entering the bottom of the inning with a 4-3 advantage, Delaware saw its lead evaporate.

Trevor Knight started the rally with a one-out single to left off reliever Matt Harden. The Duke first baseman then swiped second before knotting the game at four on an errant throw that occurred while he was stealing third.

With the two teams in a deadlock, the next batter ended the drama quickly as Garner worked the count full before parking a walk-off solo home run to complete the sweep.

The loss was Delaware’s 10th consecutive setback at James Madison and the team’s fifth straight overall. For the Dukes, the preseason CAA favorites have now won all six of their conference series this year and moved into sole possession of first place in the league standings.

Early on in the game, both starters looked strong as Rorick and Turner Phelps tossed matching zeros on the board in the first two frames. Then, in the bottom of the third, James Madison broke through first with a solo shot by Knight. Unfazed by the outburst, Rorick fell right back into his groove and retired six of the next seven batters he faced.

While their ace was keeping them in the game, the Blue Hens woke up offensively in the fifth. Todd Menchaca opened the inning with a single to right center before Alonso chased him home with a double to left to knot the game at one.

Delaware wasted little time breaking the deadlock as Hank Yates fired an RBI single through the left side of the infield. Three batters later, Ulaky kept the rally going with an RBI double to left before he came around with the team’s fourth run of the inning on a failed pickoff attempt by the Duke catcher.

Trailing for the first time in two games, James Madison shot back in the bottom of the inning. Nick Fabiaschi singled to center, swiped second, and scored on a base hit by Knight. Later, following a single by Jake Lowery, the Dukes pulled back within one on a sacrifice fly by David Herbek.

With the team’s lead in question, Rorick returned to top form. The senior right-hander escaped the sixth unscathed after allowing a two-out triple before retiring the side in order in the seventh. Then, in the eighth, he found himself in a precarious position after Matt Browning and Matt Townsend posted back-to-back one-out singles, but he quickly worked out of the jam with a strikeout and ground ball to third.

Unfortunately, Rorick’s efforts were eventually undone in the ninth by the Dukes’ two-run surge.

Harden (1-3) took the loss after surrendering both runs in the ninth. Kevin Munson (7-1) picked up the victory after allowing just one hit and no runs in 4.1 innings of relief.

Delaware will return to action on Tuesday when the squad travels to Temple for a 3 p.m. showdown with the Owls.