SOFTBALL IN D.C. TO TAKE ON GEORGE WASHINGTON

HARRISONBURG, Va., April 9, 2008 -- The James Madison softball team will wrap up its non-conference schedule Wednesday with a doubleheader in our Nation's Capital. The Dukes will take on George Washington beginning at 3 p.m. at the Mount Vernon Complex in Washington, D.C.

JMU is coming off a 1-3 week, but lost two games in extra-innings. Against in-state rival Liberty last Wednesday, JMU lost the first game 5-4 in 11 innings before rebounding to take game two 4-2. Junior right-hander Jenny Clohan (Ashburn, Va./Broad Run) threw a complete-game to pick up the win and freshman catcher Katie Spitzer (Broadway, Va./Broadway) hit her first career home run to provide the offense for Madison.

Spitzer finished the week with a .429 batting average (6-for-14), with three doubles, one home run, four RBIs, and two runs scored. The Broadway, Va. native also stole her first career base in the Dukes extra-innings loss to the Flames.

In Colonial Athletic Association play, the Dukes dropped a pair of games to Towson on Saturday and were rained out of the series finale on Sunday. In game one of the series, Towson came back from a three-run deficit in the seventh to force extra innings. The Tigers would add two runs in the eighth to take the game 8-6.

Junior third baseman Amber Kirk (Hamilton, Va./Loudoun County) collected her team-leading sixth home run of the season and sophomore right fielder