HARRISONBURG, Va. – Host James Madison took advantage of big innings in each game to pull off a doubleheader sweep of Norfolk State in the season-opening doubleheader between the two teams Friday at Veterans Memorial Park. The Dukes won the opener 16-5, and took game 2, 12-2.

Alsander Womack went a combined 4-for-9 and Dionte Brown also had three hits on the day for the Spartans (0-2).

In the first game, JMU (2-0) scored six runs in the first two innings, then broke the game open with an eight-run fifth. Brady Harju and Conor Hartigan hit consecutive RBI singles in the four-run Dukes first and both doubled home a run in the second as JMU took a quick 6-0 lead.

Kyle Novak hit a three-run double and Trevon Dabney a two-run double in an eight-run JMU fifth that broke the game open.

NSU showed some fight late, breaking through with five runs in their last three innings. Brown hit a pinch-hit RBI single in his first collegiate at-bat, and later scored on a two-out JMU error in the seventh. In the eighth, Womack doubled, stole third and scored on a pinch-hit RBI grounder by another freshman in his first collegiate at-bat, James Deloatch.

In the ninth, freshman catcher Nick Wimmers led off the frame with a single and scored on Brown's double to left-center. Mikey Delgado singled in Brown with NSU's final run of the game.

Brown went 2-for-2 with two runs and two RBI off the bench in game 1. Womack went 2-for-5.

Hartigan posted a game-high three hits for JMU, which outhit the Spartans, 14-10.

Spartan righty Chase Anderson (0-1) suffered the loss after giving up 12 runs in 4.1 innings pitched. Kevin Kelly (1-0) earned the win for the Dukes, pitching five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts.

In the nightcap, JMU again struck early. After NSU loaded the bases but failed to score in the first, Dabney put the Dukes on top with a two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the first. He doubled and scored in the fourth as JMU increased its lead to 4-0.

NSU cut its deficit in half in the top of the fifth. Jaran Davis led off by walking and Brown followed with a single, his third hit of the day. Womack drove in Davis with a groundout and Brown came around to score on a passed ball to bring NSU within 4-2.

But the Dukes held NSU scoreless from there and scored the last eight runs of the night. After scoring on a bases-loaded walk in the fifth, JMU crossed the plate seven more times in the eighth, taking advantage of five hits (including a two-run Novak single) and two NSU errors to go ahead 12-2.

In his first start as a Spartan, lefty Ridge Walker was charged with the loss after yielding five runs and striking out three in four innings. JMU's Brett Ayer, the second of three Duke pitchers, earned the win with 10 strikeouts in 3.2 innings of relief work. As a staff, JMU notched 20 strikeouts in game 2.

Due to the weather forecast, the teams will wrap up their series with a 2 p.m. game Saturday.