KNOXVILLE, Tenn., March 5, 2008 – James Madison University scored four runs in the first inning and never looked back in notching a 10-3 win at the University of Tennessee in a non-conference baseball game Wednesday afternoon at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

JMU improved to 5-3 overall while UT dropped to 4-4.  The win was just the second ever for the Dukes against a team from the Southeastern Conference.  The other was a 7-4 triumph over Georgia in 2002.

“I think the biggest thing for us was picking up an SEC win in a hostile environment,” JMU head coach Spanky McFarland commented on the win.  “We came in here and played pretty good baseball.  We had a good group effort on the mound and got some timely hits with runners in scoring position.  We are very pleased, especially with the mental toughness that the players showed today.  That’s an encouraging sign.”

The Dukes had the benefit of 11 walks and four Volunteer errors in the contest while also outhitting UT 11-7.  JMU scored four runs in its first at bat only to give two back in the bottom of the inning.  However, the Dukes went on to add six runs unanswered to pull away for the convincing victory.

Redshirt junior Brett Sellers (Greencastle, Pa./Greencastle-Antrim) went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, three RBIs, and a walk.  It was his second straight game with a home run in his first game this season batting third in the lineup.

Redshirt senior Joe Lake (Elkridge, Md./Long Reach) had two hits, two runs, two RBIs, and a walk.  Redshirt sophomore Steven Caseres (New City, N.Y./St. Joseph Regional) had a two-run home run in the first.  Sophomore Matt Browning (Mystic, Conn./Fitch) was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and his first career triple.  Junior Brett Garner (Burke, Va./Lake Braddock) reached base four times with a single and three walks.

Freshman Turner Phelps (Roanoke, Va./Lord Botetourt) earned his second straight victory in relief, working three innings while surrendering no runs on three hits with five strikeouts.  Redshirt senior Trevor Kaylid (Cary, N.C./Green Hope) made his first start of the season, allowing two runs on three hits with four strikeouts and four walks in four innings.

Junior Joey Rosas (Cottonwood, Ariz./Yavapai College) took the loss as the first of seven Volunteer pitchers in the game.  He allowed four runs on three hits with four walks in 2 1/3 innings. 

Freshman P.J. Polk (Murfreesboro, Tenn./Oakland) had two doubles for Tennessee with a run, an RBI, and a walk.  Junior Jarred Frazier (Shelbyville, Tenn./Shelbyville Central) was 2-for-4 with a solo home run in the eighth for the Vols.

JMU got off to a solid start with a four-run first inning.  Sophomore Alex Foltz (Mathias, W.Va./East Hardy) and Lake drew consecutive walks and advanced a base on a throwing error.  After an RBI groundout by Sellers, Caseres homered to right field, his first of the season.  Browning followed with a triple and freshman McKinnon Langston (Tallahassee, Fla./North Florida Christian) brought him in with an RBI groundout.

UT got two back in the bottom of the frame when senior Andy Simunic (Collierville, Tenn./Chattanooga State) walked out of the leadoff spot and stole second.  Polk then doubled to the wall in left center to plate the first run.  After consecutive strikeouts, freshman Josh Liles (Jackson, Tenn.) singled through the right side for an RBI.

The Dukes regained a four-run cushion in the fourth.  Langston tripled to start the inning and the Dukes later loaded the bases with one down on a walk and a hit batter.  After a flyout, Lake hit a two-run single through the right side.

JMU added another run in the fifth on a solo home run to left field by Sellers.  The Dukes loaded the bases after the home run and had a bases-loaded walk by sophomore Mike Fabiaschi (Torrington, Conn./Torrington) for the eighth run.

The ninth run for the Dukes came in on a throwing error on a failed pickoff by the pitcher as Browning scored in the seventh.  The last run came in the eighth when a single by Lake was trailed by a double from Sellers.  Frazier’s home run for UT came in the bottom of the inning to account for the 10-3 final.

JMU will head south from Knoxville to Atlanta for a three-game CAA weekend set in Panthersville against Georgia State.