James Madison Dukes baseball


The James Madison Dukes baseball team represents James [Madison University] in NCAA baseball. The "Diamond Dukes," as the team is known, have compiled a 1092-670-8 all-time record and have made the NCAA tournament eight times, most recently in 2024 NCAA [Division I baseball tournament|2024]. The Dukes compete in the Sun Belt Conference.

History

Founded in 1970, the James Madison baseball program played at Long Field at Mauck Stadium through the end of the 2009 season. In 2010 they opened play at Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park, the school's new baseball and softball complex. Billy Sample is JMU's most famous baseball alumnus, who played in 862 career major league games with the Texas Rangers, New York Yankees, and Atlanta Braves. In the 2006 season, JMU had the top-two home run hitters in Division I. One of them, Kellen Kulbacki, placed in the top five in all three of the triple crown categories. Kulbacki received the 2006 National Player of the Year award as a sophomore. In 2008, the Dukes won their first CAA Championship defeating Towson University qualifying the team for the 2008 NCAA Division I baseball tournament hosted by North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC. The Dukes also won the CAA Championship in 2011 defeating Old Dominion University qualifying the team for the 2011 NCAA Division I baseball tournament. After a 13 year drought, the Dukes returned to the NCAA Tournament again in 2024, falling to host NC State in the Raleigh Regional final.

James Madison in the NCAA Tournament

The NCAA Division I baseball tournament started in 1947. The Dukes have played in 8 tournaments, advancing to the College World Series in 1983.
19801–2East Regional
19811–2East Regional
19834–2College World Series 7th place, East Regional Champions
19880–2Atlantic Regional
20021–2Columbia Regional
20081–2Raleigh Regional
20112–2Chapel Hill Regional
20242–2Raleigh Regional
TOTALS12–16

Notable alumni