Dukes Fall in Season Opener at Florida State

Friday, February 18

Tallahassee, FL

6 p.m.

James Madison University

0-1

Florida State

1-0

James Madison

Florida State

2/18/2022 9:21:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The James Madison baseball team was able to get on the scoreboard first, but ultimately fell to No. 11 Florida State, 4-1, in the season opener at Dick Howser Stadium on Friday night.

The Dukes fall to 0-1 while the Seminoles start the season 1-0.

Graduate student Justin Showalter got the start for Opening Day, going five-plus innings and giving up four runs with three earned, while striking out two. Redshirt junior Travis Reifsnider led the Dukes offensively, going 2-for-4 with a home run.

How It Happened
After each team was retired in order in the first inning, the Dukes scored the first run of the game in the top of the second. With two outs, Reifsnider worked a full count before taking a pitch over the right field wall for a 1-0 lead.

Florida State responded quickly with back-to-back home runs in the bottom half of the inning, going up 2-1 as the teams headed to the third. The Seminoles had a chance to extend their lead in the fifth, after Jaime Ferrer led off with a walk and then stole second. Ferrer attempted to score from second on a single by Jackson Greene, but a perfect throw from redshirt junior Carson Bell in right field nabbed Ferrer at the plate to end the inning.

The Seminoles did pick up two runs in the sixth, after a pair of lead off hits came around to score on a sacrifice fly and a passed ball to make it 4-1.

The Dukes would not go down without a fight though, as redshirt junior Nick Zona led off the eighth with a single. He then advanced to third after redshirt sophomore Chase DeLauter doubled down the left field line to put runners in scoring position with one down and the tying run at bat. However, back-to-back strikeouts would end the threat and Florida State would hold on for the 4-1 victory.

Florida State's Parker Messick picked up the win, going 5.2 innings and striking out 11.

Game Notes

Chase DeLauter's double extends his hit streak to 17 games and has now reached base in 25 consecutive games. Both streaks continue from last season.
Travis Reifsnider's home run was the fourth of his career.

Up Next
The Dukes meet Florida State for the middle game of the three-game series Saturday, Feb. 19. First pitch is at 2 p.m. and will be streamed on ACC Network Extra.