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James Madison University
Georgia St.
WERNSING HOMERS DUKES TO OPENING-ROUND WIN
5/8/2008 4:00:00 AM | Softball
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y., May 8, 2008 ? The James Madison softball team got a one-out, two-run home run in the top of the seventh inning by junior second baseman Kaitlyn Wernsing (Clemmons, N.C./West Forsyth) to defeat Georgia State 2-1 in the opening round of the 2008 Colonial Athletic Association Championships Thursday.
The Dukes, winners of 12 straight, improved to 31-20 overall and will face Hofstra in the second round of CAA Championship Friday at 10 a.m. The Pride defeated Towson 3-1 in the first game of the day.
The Panthers dropped to 37-17 and will face Towson in the tournament's first elimination game Friday at 12:30 p.m.
It was the first home run of Wernsing's career and the 16th RBI of the season for the junior second baseman. She led the Dukes offensively, going 2-for-3 with a run scored and two RBIs.
Junior catcher Julia Dominguez (Sterling, Va./Park View) led off the inning with a single. She was pinch run for by junior outfielder Megan Forbes (Fincastle, Va./Lord Botetourt). Forbes moved up to second on a passed ball and to third on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore designated player Lauren Mernin (Herndon, Va./Herndon). Wernsing than came to the plate and took Georgia State starter Alicia Mills deep over the left-field fence to give JMU its only lead of the day.
Junior right-hander Meredith Felts (Greenville, N.C./J.H. Rose) worked a perfect seventh inning to pick up her 16th win of the season, setting a school record for wins in a season in the process. She threw her 10th complete game, giving up four hits, one run, and two walks and while striking out seven.
Mills took the loss,
