Arkansas State baseball splits doubleheader at James Madison

Arkansas State baseball (20-25-1, 7-15-1 SBC) took an early 9-4 defeat against James Madison (27-19, 12-11 SBC) before rebounding with an 8-1 victory to split the doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Park.

Arlon Butts restarted the series opener for A-State, surrendering five runs (none earned) on two hits and two walks over 1.1 innings pitched. Three Red Wolves had multi-hit performances, but Allen Grier led the team with two RBIs.

Max Charlton (3-2) made his third start in Game 2, allowing one run on five hits and a walk while striking out three over 6.0 innings pitched. Jared Toler, Wil French, and Grier led the bats after hitting a combined 7-for-14 at the plate with seven RBIs between them.

GAME ONE

Arkansas State baseball (19-24-1, 6-14-1 SBC) trailed 5-2 against James Madison (26-18, 11-10 SBC) before inclement weather forced the game to be suspended in the third inning on Friday night at Veterans Memorial Park.

Kole Turner made his seventh start for A-State, surrendering five runs (none earned) on two hits and two walks over 2.2 innings pitched. Blake Burris was on a roll at the plate, recording two singles and a run in two at-bats.

James Madison took advantage of a fielding error by the Red Wolves in the first inning, scoring four runs on a three-run homer by Wyatt Peifer and a sacrifice fly.

A-State scored their first run in the third when Wil French reached home on a throwing error by the Dukes. Jared Toler brought in Burris with a single up the middle and cut the Red Wolves deficit down to two.

Peifer recorded his fourth RBI of the contest after grounding out to Austen Jaslove at third, making the score 5-2 before the contest entered a lightning delay.

The Dukes added to their lead two innings after the game resumed, starting with an RBI groundout for Wyatt Peifer. A bases-loaded walk and sacrifice fly was complimented by a two-run double from Ryan Dooley as the Red Wolves trailed 9-2 going into the sixth.

Allen Grier brought in two runs after singling through the right side in the ninth, but it would not be enough as A-State dropped the series opener by five runs. T.R. Williams (2-1) earned the win while Kole Turner (2-4) took the loss.

GAME TWO

A-State broke a scoreless tie in the third inning on an RBI double from Grier and an RBI single from Toler. A fielder’s choice and groundout allowed two more runs to score in the next inning, putting the Scarlet and Black ahead 4-0.

French added to the lead after firing a grounder down the right-field line for a single in the sixth. Not long after, a bases-loaded walk for Jake Henry Williams capped off another multi-run inning for A-State and extended the lead to six.

Ryan Dooley ended the scoring drought for James Madison after delivering a solo home run over the right-field wall in the bottom frame. It was the only round-tripper of the day for either team and made the score 6-1 going into the final stretch.

Toler delivered the final blow with a two-run single in the eighth as A-State rolled to a seven-run victory. Charlton earned the win and Blaine Harpenau (3) claimed the save, while Donovan Burke (5-1) took the loss.

NEXT UP

Arkansas State will face James Madison in the series finale on Sunday, May 5 at Veterans Memorial Park. First pitch is set for 11:00 a.m. (CT) on ESPN+ and can be heard on 95.3/96.9 The Ticket Radio Network along with the A-State Red Wolves mobile app.

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