Big Hits from Louisiana Downs Dukes

Saturday, March 29

Lafayette, La.

5 p.m. ET (4 p.m. CT)

James Madison University

9-0, 4-4

Louisiana

13-15, 5-3

James Madison

Louisiana

3/30/2025 1:53:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

LAFAYETTE, La. – Louisiana connected on five extra base hits to down James Madison baseball, 8-7, on Saturday afternoon at Russo Park after inclement weather pushed first pitch back four-and-a-half hours.

The Dukes dropped to 9-18 overall and 4-4 in Sun Belt Conference action, while the Ragin' Cajuns improved to 13-15 (4-4 SBC).

At the plate, senior Coleman Calabrese led the Dukes with a career-high-tying four hits as he went 4-for-5 with a home run. Senior Casey Smith started and went three innings with three strikeouts while giving up five runs.

How It Happened
First Inning
Louisiana struck first as Sun Belt Player of the Week Conor Higgs tripled and then crossed home plate on a groundout.

Second Inning
With runners on the corner, the Dukes tied the game as a dropped fly ball in center field allowed freshman Reece Moody to score. JMU then took the lead on an Eli Steadman single to make it 2-1.

The Cajuns retook the lead in the home half of the inning, first tying the game on a wild pitch with the bases loaded. A two-run single then gave UL a 4-2 lead.

Fourth Inning
A pair of errors allowed the Dukes to tie the game at four, using an errant pickoff attempt at third base and a wild throw to first to score the runs and make the score four-all.

Louisiana responded with a three-run inning again in the home half of the inning, on a trio of base hits to take a 7-4 lead.

Fifth Inning
Calabrese launched his third homer of the season, a solo shot, to cut the deficit to two and make the score 7-5.

Sixth Inning
A double regained UL's three-run lead, as it knocked in a run and made it 8-5.

Seventh Inning
JMU got a run back on a sacrifice fly to center field from junior Wyatt Peifer to drive in a run and make it 8-6 after senior Ryan Dooley and Calabrese led off the inning with back-to-back singles.

Ninth Inning
The Dukes made it a one-run game after sophomore Kyle Langley singled in pinch hitter Nic Poole to make it 8-7.

Game Notes

Coleman Calabrese's four-hit game is the first for JMU since Fenwick Trimble and Brendan O'Donnell both had four-hit games against Old Dominion on May 24 last season.
JMU batted 4-for-9 (.444) out of the leadoff spot in the lineup.
The teams combined to leave 18 batters on base.
At three hours and 34 minutes, the contest tied for the longest game of the season for the Dukes.

Up Next
The Dukes will take the field tomorrow, March 30 to face Louisiana in the series finale with a 12:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. CT first pitch.