Pensacola, FL - John Melvin extends their win streak to 6 games and have won 9 of their last 10 after finishing off a 4-game sweep of Lighthouse Christian College in Pensacola this week.
Game 1: JMU 6 - LCC 5
JMU jumped out to an early lead in game 1 and built up a 5-2 lead in the 4th inning, but Lighthouse stormed their way back forcing JMU to hold on at the end to secure the win. Trevor Durr opened up the scoring in the first inning with a double to center field that scored Kole Sonnier to give the Millers a 1-0 lead. JMU added on in the second inning when leadoff batter Andrew Ashby tripled then scored on a throwing error by the shortstop. 2 pitches later, Zayne Earl hit his 2nd Home Run of the season to give JMU a 3-1 lead. Kole Sonnier added a run with an RBI single to score Noah Watkins, and Kade Massey added 2 more with a double that scored Sonnier and Gavin Gary. The Millers offense would hold at 6 for the remainder of the game and rely on their defense to hold on for the victory.
Cabet John Blanchard made his first start on the mound since returning from surgery and picked up his 2nd win of the season after working a strong 6 innings and giving up 4 runs. Caleb Ougel picked up his first save as a Miller, giving up a run but ultimately slamming the door on Lighthouse to secure the Miller win.
2B: Andrew Ashby, Kade Massey, Noah Watkins, Trevor Durr
3B: Andrew Ashby
HR: Zayne Earl
Win: Cabet John Blanchard (2-0)
Save: Caleb Ougel (1)
Game 2: JMU 13 - LCC 4
Game 2 started off as a back-and-forth game before the Millers broke the game open at the end. JMU jumped out to a 3-2 lead in the first inning and were losing 4-3 after 3 innings. From there on, game 2 was all JMU, outscoring Lighthouse 10-0 in the final 4 innings of the game. Noah Watkins, Kole Sonnier, Caleb Ougel, and Andrew Ashby all picked up RBIs in game 2 with Wakins, Sonnier, Trevor Durr, Ashby, Connor Pleasant, Gavin Gary, and Jonah Callais all scoring runs.
Freshman Dane Mallon made the first start of his college career in game 2 and picked up the first win of his college career as well. Mallon worked 5 innings in the start, allowing just 1 earned run on 3 hits, striking out 4 LCC batters. Troy Morel entered the game in relief and threw a clean 6th inning, allowing 1 hit and picking up a strikeout. Bryce Oquinn closed out the win for the Millers with a scoreless 7th inning.
2B: Jonah Callais, Kole Sonnier
SB: Noah Watkins (2), Connor Pleasant, Jonah Callais, Kole Sonnier, Shilon Christmas
Win: Dane Mallon (1-0)
Game 3: JMU 14 - LCC 2
The JMU offense started off hot and never let up in the game 3 victory for the Millers. JMU scored 1 in the 2nd, 5 in the 3rd, 1 in the 4th, 2 in the 6th, and 5 runs in the 7th inning to cap of a masterful 14-run performance. Game 3 was a record-breaking game for the Millers offense as JMU set their single-game team hits record with a whopping 17 hits in game 3. Trevor Durr and Kade Massey led the offense with 3 hits each and Kole Sonnier, Zayne Earl, Connor Pleasant, and Dylan Jiminez also provided multi-hit performances. Gavin Gary swang a big bat off the bench with a bases-clearing 3-RBI triple.
Willy Flynn stepped up in his first start as a Miller and threw the staffs first complete game of the season. Flynn picked up his 2nd win of the season in the effort, working a masterful 7 innings, allowing just 2 runs and striking out 5; needing just 92 pitches to finish off the JMU victory.
2B: Kade Massey (2), Dylan Jiminez, Kole Sonnier
3B: Gavin Gary
SB: Connor Pleasant
Win: Willy Flynn (2-1)
Game 4: JMU 4 - LCC 2
The series finale was a tight game throughout. JMU took an early 1-0 lead in the 2nd inning when Shilon Christmas grounded out, scoring Taylor Walter from third. Lighthouse got the run back in the bottom of the 2nd inning to tie the game at 1 run each. The score held there until the 4th inning when Taylor Walters tripled in Dylan Jiminez to give the Millers a 2-1 lead. JMU added to their lead in the top of the 6th inning when Jonah Callais and Andrew Ashby each scored on wild pitches to give the Millers a 4-1 lead. Lighthouse would scratch a run in the bottom of the 6th with a solo Home Run but it wouldn't be enough as JMU held on for the win. Game 4 was a record-setting game for Taylor Walters, who set the JMU record for triples in a single game.
Brandon Duraso made his first start as a Miller in game 4 and picked up his 2nd win of the season. Duraso worked 5.1 innings in the start, allowing just 1 run on 2 hits, striking out 5 Lighthouse batters. Noah Watkins picked up the first save of his career, entering the game with 1 out in the 6th inning and allowing 1 run in the 6th before shutting things down and throwing a scoreless 7th inning to secure the win for the Millers.
2B: Gavin Walker, Trevor Durr
3B: Taylor Walters (2)
Win: Brandon Duraso (2-1)
Save: Noah Watkins (1)
