HARRISONBURG, VA -- The University of Delaware baseball team could not overcome an early four-run deficit as the James Madison Dukes downed the Blue Hens, 7-5, during a Colonial Athletic Association battle on a warm Friday afternoon at Long Field.

Junior infielder Kyle Davis (at right) went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a pair of stolen bases to help lead Delaware (11-20, 5-8 CAA). With his two steals, Davis doubled his career total after swiping two during his first 120 games as a Blue Hen.

Scott Shockley also added two hits for Delaware, while Ryan Cuneo cracked his second home run of the season.

James Madison (23-8, 13-3), who currently sits in second place in the conference standings, answered an early Delaware run with a five-run outburst during the team's first trip to the plate.

In the first, the Duke's loaded the bases with only one out as Alex Foltz walked, Brett Sellers singled, and Steven Caseres was hit by a pitch. McKinnon Langston followed with an RBI walk before designated hitter Lee Bujakowski came through with the biggest hit of the game, drilling a three-run double to left that cleared the bases. One batter later, he came home on a single by Matt Browning.

Although the Hens put a runner on during two of the next three innings, they could not piece together a rally until the top of the fifth.

Following a home run by Caseras that put James Madison up, 6-1, in the Duke's half of the fourth, Delaware immediately responded with a three-run inning. Cuneo opened the scoring when he clubbed a shot over the right field wall. Davis followed with a walk, stole second, and came around on an RBI single by Alex Buchholz.

After Buchholz followed Davis' lead and swiped second, he scored the team's final run of the inning when Scott Shockley ripped a double down the right field line. The rally pulled the Hens within two at 6-4, but James Madison quickly extended its lead back to three after Brett Sellers notched an RBI double that plated Alex Foltz, who earlier had worked a walk.

Delaware tacked on its final run of the contest in the seventh when Adam Tsakonas reached on a fielder's choice, moved to second on a walk to Shockley, and scored on a single by Ryan Reed. Reed then stole second to put the tying run in scoring position, but James Madison's Kevin Munson struck out Josh Dean to end the threat.

With the victory, the Dukes extended their conference winning streak to four games after they swept Hofstra last weekend. They also improved to 6-1 at home during CAA play this season.

The game had looked promising for the Hens after Davis single-handedly scored the first run of the game. After roping a single to left field, he stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error by the Dukes' catcher, and scored on a wild pitch. That was the last lead Delaware would have, however, as James Madison recorded its five-run first and cruised to the victory.

Kyle Hoffman (6-1) picked up the win with a strong five-inning performance, while Munson recorded his third save of the season after striking out five over 2.2 innings of scoreless relief. Mike McGuire (2-3) was handed the loss despite settling down following his rough first to throw six innings of seven-hit ball.

The two teams will continue their three-game series tomorrow for a 1 p.m. match-up at Long Field.

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