TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (JMU Athletics) – James Madison baseball was within a run of No. 16 Florida State entering the eighth inning before the Seminoles brought three runs across in the inning, leading to a 5-1 final score at Dick Howser Stadium on Friday night.
Beginning the season at Florida State for the fourth time in five years, the Dukes begin the season 0-1 while the Noles won their fifth straight season opener.
At the plate, junior Ike Schmidly and sophomore Reece Moody both went 2-for-4 to lead the team. Schmidly added a double in hit fifth career multi-hit performance. Junior Griffin Polley made his first career start on the mound and went three innings, allowing two runs and striking out three.
How It Happened
First Inning
With two outs in the bottom of the first, Myles Bailey sent the first pitch he saw over the right field wall for a 1-0 lead for the hosts.
Second Inning
Brody DeLamielleure added a run for the Noles with a solo shot for a 2-0 lead.
Sixth Inning
The Dukes gained a run back on a wild pitch to make it a one-run game. Redshirt sophomore Clay Thompson drew a walk and was followed by a single from junior Kyle Langley, but Thompson was originally thrown out going from first-to-third. After a review, the call was overturned which set up Thompson to score and make it 2-1.
Eighth Inning
FSU broke the game open with three runs after loading the bases with no outs. A balk and a two-run single made the score 5-1.
Game Notes
• In his collegiate debut, freshman Tyler Lutz tossed 3.2 scoreless innings of relief with a trio of strikeouts. He scattered three hits and allowed just one walk.
• The five runs allowed by the Dukes were the lowest in a season opener since allowing four to FSU in 2022.
Up Next
The Dukes and Seminoles meet for the middle game of the series at 2 p.m. tomorrow, Feb. 14.
— JMU Athletics —
