BLACKSBURG, Va. (Interstat) — Ethan Ball hit a three-run home run in the second inning and Nick Locurto drove in three runs as Virginia Tech routed James Madison 14-1 on Tuesday night at English Field.

The Hokies, now 23-20 overall, pounded out 16 hits and took control early. Ball, a second baseman, finished 1 for 2 with a walk, his homer and three RBIs. Locurto, the left fielder, went 3 for 5 with three RBIs, including a two-run single in the first inning that put Virginia Tech ahead for good.

James Madison fell to 18-24. The Dukes managed only five hits and scored their lone run in the third inning on an RBI single by Schmidly. James Madison pitchers issued eight walks and hit three batters, while the defense committed one error that led to an unearned run.

The game began with Virginia Tech starter Madden Clement working through the top of the first unscathed. Clement allowed four hits and one earned run over three and two-thirds innings, striking out two. He was lifted after James Madison’s third-inning run, but the Hokies bullpen held the Dukes scoreless the rest of the way.

Brody Roe earned the win with one and one-third innings of hitless relief, striking out one. Brendan Yagesh, Luke Craytor and Danny Lazaro each pitched an inning or less of scoreless relief, combining for four strikeouts.

The decisive sequence came in the bottom of the second. Virginia Tech already led 2-1 after Locurto’s two-run single in the first. In the second, the Hokies sent 11 batters to the plate and scored five runs before Ball’s blast chased James Madison starter Madden. After a pitching change, Ball launched his 11th home run of the season to center field, clearing the bases and extending the lead to 7-1. The Hokies added two more runs in the fourth on a sacrifice fly and a bunt single, then broke the game open with a five-run fifth that included RBI hits from Lutterman and Daniel and a sacrifice fly by Petrich.

Locurto added his third RBI in the sixth with a single that scored Gibson. An error by James Madison third baseman Worth later allowed a fourth run in the inning, making it 14-1.

James Madison starter Horvath lasted just two-thirds of an inning, walking two and allowing two runs. Luke McGrath threw two innings of hitless relief but surrendered two earned runs on two walks and a hit batter. Bryce Greene, Trey Campos and others also appeared in relief.

The Dukes’ best chance to build momentum came in the top of the third when Moody singled, stole second and scored on Schmidly’s single to center. But Clement and the Hokies bullpen shut down James Madison from there, allowing only two more hits the rest of the game.

Virginia Tech’s defense played error-free ball, turning a double play in the fourth when Hughes was picked off second base. The Hokies also executed two sacrifice flies, one by Gibson and one by Petrich.

James Madison had won its previous game Sunday, a 10-2 victory at Louisiana-Monroe, before dropping this midweek matchup. Virginia Tech had taken two of three from North Carolina State over the weekend, winning the series finale 5-4.

The Hokies will travel to California for a three-game series starting Friday. James Madison returns home to host Marshall for a weekend series.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Virginia Tech 6, James Madison 2. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Virginia Tech with a 73.50 percent probability to win.