kolakoski.com/published articles/Madison Skids into History

Madison Skids into History:
Losing Streak Ties School Mark

The clouds parted Tuesday afternoon over Long Field, but the sun certainly didn't shine on James Madison's baseball fortunes.

Maryland beat JMU 6-5, sending the Dukes to a school record-tying sixth consecutive loss and sending new coach Spanky McFarland in search of answers.

"This loss was particularly tough because I thought we should have won," McFarland said. "I thought we had opportunities to win this game but we didn't execute."

The Terrapins already had a 4-2 lead when freshman Michael D'Archangelo came to the plate in the sixth inning with two runners in scoring position. He hit a blooper over JMU's third baseman to drive in both runs and boost Maryland's lead to 6-2 -- good enough to withstand a late rally by the Dukes.

Madison dropped to 18-2-1 after its second loss to the Terrapins this month. Maryland inched closer to .500 at 16-19-1.

The loss spoiled a servicable performance by JMU pitcher Nic Herr, who wnet all nine innings and tied a career high with 10 strikeouts. He gave up 10 hits and fell to 4-2.

"I felt good out there but, at the same time, I lost," said Herr, who also struck out 10 against Old Dominion on March 15.

The Dukes took a 2-1 lead in the third inning, but the advantage crumbled in the middle innings. Maryland retired nine straight JMU batyter and scored five unanswered runs in the fifth and sixth innings combined.

Winning pitcher Jamie Hammond, who gave up two earned runs in seven innings to improve to 3-5, attributed his team's victory to simple desire.

"I saw that we had an opportunity to win and I told myself to go out there with the lead and bear down," Hammond said. "I just made sure not to lose that lead."

Madison made it interesting thoguht, with two runs in the eighth inning. JMU shortstop Corey Hoch reached base on an error and later scored in teh bottome of the eighth. The designated hitter, Greg Miller, singled in a run and cut the Terps' lead to one run, with runners on first and third and one out. However, Maryland catcher Scott Brenowicz picked off Chad Hartman at third and threw out Miller at second. The Terrapins ended the Dukes' rally and secured the afternoon's victory.

JMU also fell to Maryland by one run, 7-6, on April 6 in College Park. In fact, of its six consecutive losses, four have been by one run.

Next up for JMU is today's visit to Towson.

This article appeared in Harrisonburg, VA''s
Daily News-Record, 4.15.98.