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HARRISONBURG, Va. – Scott Holzwasser's RBI double three batters into the Northeastern baseball team's 2018 CAA opener on Friday foreshadowed the Huskies' late-inning surge as NU began its regular-season title defense with a 10-2, wire-to-wire victory against James Madison at Veterans Memorial Park.
 
Northeastern (13-9, 1-0 CAA) dueled with the Dukes for six innings until the Huskies' offense managed to take over down the stretch, piling on seven runs across the game's final three frames courtesy of seven hits and two JMU errors.
 
Tyler Brown delivered five shutout innings before carrying five strikeouts and a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the sixth inning, where James Madison (13-11, 1-3 CAA) pulled within a run on Harry Brown's two-run homer. The NU righty exited the game at the seventh-inning stretch upon the Huskies having regained their three-run advantage (5-2), closing his book with six strikeouts and a walk while scattering five hits.
 
Andrew Misiaszek silenced JMU with just seven pitches during the bottom of the seventh inning prior to capping his eighth inning with back-to-back strikeouts. Josh Winkler brought the Huskies the rest of the way, putting the win on ice courtesy of his one-two-three ninth inning.
 
Holzwasser's first-inning double marked the first of five extra-base hits that Northeastern slugged on Friday. With Ian Fair aboard following a one-out single, Holzwasser barreled a shot through the gap in left center, scoring Fair from first without a throw to the plate as the Huskies made their way onto the scoreboard.
 
NU struck for two runs during the second inning, when James Madison botched its bases-loaded handling of McConnell's fly out to center. Mason Koppens baited the Dukes into throwing behind him at first base, which allowed Cam Walsh to advance to third base and Ryan Solomon to score. Walsh proceeded to dart home on the ensuing passed ball as the Huskies took a 3-0 lead.
 
After Northeastern had been kept hitless during the next four innings by JMU starter Colton Harlow, John Mazza broke through during the seventh inning with a leadoff double, prompting the Huskies' two-run rally. Mazza finished with a two-for-three day at the plate, in addition to placing a pair of sacrifice bunts that had advanced both Walsh and Solomon into scoring position during two separate occasions.
 
Northeastern tacked on two more runs without a hit during the eighth inning, then added three more insurance runs during the ninth. Jake Farrell cracked a one-out triple to left field while Max Burt and Solomon each followed with RBI doubles to the same location. Mazza drove in the final NU run courtesy of an RBI base hit through the left side.
 
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NU and JMU will resume their weekend series on Saturday, March 31, at 4 p.m.