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James Madison University
Charleston
GRAND SLAM DOOMS DUKES IN 7-1 LOSS
2/20/2010 6:00:00 PM | Softball
CHARLESTON, S.C., Feb. 20, 2010 - The College of Charleston took advantage of eight walks by JMU pitchers on their way to a 7-1 win in the Saturday opener of the CofC Cougar Classic at Patriots Point Field in Charleston, S.C.
The Duke fell to 1-2 in 2010 while the Cougars improved to 2-3 after each team split a pair of games on Friday.
In addition to the eight free passes, Charleston left fielder Amanda Lonergan was hit by a pitch three times and the Cougars took advantage, plating four of the 11 runners who reached base without a hit.
Charleston ran out to an early 4-0 lead as catcher Katie Pesature launched a one-out grand slam to right-center field. Freshman pitcher Cara Stecher (New Castle, Del./Caravel Academy) allowed a leadoff double by second baseman Amber Shifflet before walking the bases loaded to set up Pesature's slam. The rookie settled in for Madison after the homer, striking out the side without further damage.
Stecher found herself in trouble again in the second inning as she loaded the bases with a pair of two-out walks sandwiched around a single by center fielder Kristi Woodall. Lonergan's first hit by pitch of the game extended the Cougars' lead to 5-0 before Stecher escaped further damage on nice play by freshman second baseman Haley Johnson (Ashburn, Va./Broad Run) to rob Pesature of a hit.
Freshman right-hander Heather Dindinger (Riner, Va./Auburn) relieved Stecher to start the third inning. She went 4 1/3 innings, allowing three hits, two runs, walking three and striking out two. Stecher went two innings, allowing five runs on three hits while striking out four and walking four.
The Dukes got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning on an RBI single up the middle by sophomore third baseman Caitlen Manning (Prince George, Va./Prince George). Senior first baseman Shannon Moxey (Church Road, Va./Mills Godwin) scored from second after walking to lead off the inning and moving up when senior right fielder Courtney Simons (Richmond, Va./Deep Run) was hit by a pitch.
That was all the scoring Madison got as Charleston right-hander Alexa Datko limited JMU to four hits in seven innings. The junior walked one batter and struck out four to improve to 1-1.
