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James Madison University
North Carolina
SOFTBALL LOSES TO NORTH CAROLINA 3-0
3/9/2008 5:00:00 AM | Softball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C., March 9, 2008 ? The JMU softball team (8-9) lost for the third time in the last five games to an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent as North Carolina (19-6) defeated the Dukes 3-0 Sunday.
The Tar Heels, who are just outside the Top 25 in the USA Today/NFCA coaches' poll, got 16 strikeouts from two pitchers as JMU managed just two hits in the game. Starter Danielle Spalding struck out 11 over five innings to get the win and Lisa Norris pitched the final two innings, striking out five and giving up no hits to get the save.
JMU junior right-hander Jenny Clohan pitched 3.1 innings of relief, giving up one hit, one run, walked two and struck out two for JMU. She relieved fellow junior Meredith Felts who pitched 2.2 innings, giving up four hits, two runs, walked one and struck out five. Felts took the loss to fall to 4-5 this season.
Carolina opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with first baseman Jennifer Jacobs laced an RBI double off the center field wall to score center fielder Breanna Brown from second. UNC would add a second run on Cassie Palmer's home run in the bottom of the third.
The Dukes' biggest threat came in the top of the first inning when sophomore left fielder Shannon Moxey and junior shortstop Amber Kirk each singled to put runners on first and second with one out. Spalding was able to pitch her way out of trouble with a strikeout and a groundout to end the inning.
Kirk and Moxey each went 1-for-3 at the plate to lead the Dukes.
Madison will continue its tour through the ACC with a doubleheader at the University of Virginia on Wednesday before hosting the JMU/Days Inn Invitational next weeken
