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Hofstra
HOFSTRA OUTLASTS JMU FOR CAA CHAMPIONSHIP
5/11/2008 7:30:00 PM | Softball
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y., May 11, 2008 ? The James Madison softball team fell 3-0 in the 2008 Colonial Athletic Association Championship game Sunday as Hofstra outlasted the Dukes for its seventh CAA title in seven years.
Hofstra earns the CAA's automatic bid and will host one of the NCAA regional tournaments.
Hofstra took the lead in the top of the third inning. The Pride got an infield single from right fielder Kris Root, who stole second and moved to third on a sacrifice by second baseman Casey Fee. After a groundout and a walk, HU designated player Sara Oliver lifted a fly ball to the outfield that the Dukes were unable to make a play on, allowing two unearned runs to cross the plate. First baseman Michele DePasquale followed with a single to right-center field to plate Oliver.
JMU put together a threat in the bottom half of the inning, putting runners on first and second with a walk by sophomore left fielder Brittney Dyson (Waldorf, Md./Thomas Stone) and a single by sophomore right fielder Shannon Moxey (Church Roads, Va./Mills Godwin). Moxey's single to right field was the first hit allowed in the game by HU starter Kayleigh Lotti. However, with two outs, the two-time reigning CAA Pitcher of the Year induced a groundout to escape the jam.
With the exception of the top of the third inning, the starting pitchers both settled into a pitchers' duel. JMU junior right-hander Jenny Clohan (Ashburn, Va./Broad Run) took the loss despite throwing her 12th complete game of the season. She allowed just three hits, three unearned runs and a walk and struck out four.
Lotti picked up her 21st win of the season, throwing seven innings of one-hit ball for the Pride. She walked two and struck out two. In total Lotti threw 36 of a possible 38 innings for HU in the tournament, earning her the Most Outstanding Player award.
