Dukes Fall in Florida State Series Finale

Sunday, February 20

Tallahassee, Fla.

1 p.m.

James Madison University

0-3

Florida State

3-0

James Madison

Florida State

2/20/2022 5:06:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The James Madison baseball team fell in the series finale to No. 11 Florida State, 10-4, on Sunday afternoon at Dick Howser Stadium.

The Dukes begin the season 0-3 after the opening weekend, while the Seminoles move to 3-0.

Sophomore Joe Vogatsky was on the bump first for the Dukes and went two-plus innings, giving up four runs and four hits while striking out two. Redshirt junior Nick Zona led the team at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.

How It Happened
Florida State took an early lead, scoring on an RBI double in the first. JMU responded in the third inning to tie the game at one apiece. After a bunt single by Zona and walks to classmate Trevon Dabney and freshman Fenwick Trimble, redshirt junior Kyle Novak hit a sacrifice fly to center to bring Zona home.

The Seminoles responded quickly and harshly, retaking the lead with four runs in the third and three in the fourth to take an 8-1 lead after four innings.

In the seventh inning, the Dukes were able to put another run on the board after freshman Ryan Dooley doubled in redshirt sophomore Mason Dunaway. Dunaway singled and was followed by freshman Jason Schiavone who drew a walk to put a pair of runners on. Dooley then doubled off the right center field wall to score Dunaway and make it an 8-2 game.

Florida State once again responded, scoring twice on a single in the bottom of the seventh. The Dukes were able to get those two runs back by virtue of an RBI groundout by Novak and a sacrifice fly by Dunaway to make it 10-4 in the top of the eighth.

Freshman Casey Smith recorded his first collegiate hit in the top of the ninth, but nothing else would come for the Dukes and the Noles would take the game, 10-4. Jackson Nezuh earned the win, going 1.2 innings with two strikeouts.

Up Next
The Dukes are in action next on Wednesday, Feb. 23 at 3 p.m. for their home opener, welcoming George Mason to Eagle Field. The game will be streamed on FloSports.