James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
James Madison University
Georgia State
DUKES WIN SERIES OPENER OVER GEORGIA STATE
3/29/2008 4:00:00 AM | Softball
PANTHERSVILLE, Ga., March 29, 2008 ? The James Madison softball team won 4-0 to open up a three-game series with Colonial Athletic Association rival Georgia State on Saturday. Game two of the series was moved from Saturday afternoon to Sunday morning at 10 a.m. due to inclement weather.
The Dukes struggled early in the game and were held hitless by Georgia State starter Alicia Mills through the first four innings. Junior right-hander Meredith Felts kept the JMU offense in the game, dueling Mills to a scoreless tie through four innings.
Madison broke through in the top of the fifth with their first hit of the game as sophomore designated player Lauren Mernin hit her first home run of the season to give the Dukes the lead. Mernin, who was hitting .095 coming into the game, broke out of her slump, taking Mills 1-2 pitch deep over the left-field fence.
That was all the support the Dukes' pitching staff needed as Felts shutout the Panthers for six innings, giving up four hits, two walks and striking out three to pick up her sixth win of the season. Junior RHP Jenny Clohan pitched the final inning to pick up her third save of the season.
Clohan added to her all-time saves record, picking up the eighth of her career.
In the sixth Madison added three insurance runs on junior third baseman Amber Kirk's three-run homer to left field. Sophomore left fielder Shannon Moxey started the rally with a single to center field. Junior outfielder Megan Forbes came in as a pinch runner and moved to third on a single up the middle by sophomore center fielder Courtney Simons. Both runners would score as Kirk drove Mills' 2-0 pitch into nearly the same spot as Mernin's earlier homer for the 4-0 lead.
