SOFTBALL OPENS NEW STADIUM WITH A SPLIT AGAINST LONGWOOD

Wednesday, March 17

Harrisonburg, Va.

2:00 p.m.

James Madison University

10-10

Longwood

14-8

Longwood

James Madison

SOFTBALL OPENS NEW STADIUM WITH A SPLIT AGAINST LONGWOOD

3/18/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

HARRISONBURG, Va., March 17, 2010 - A walk-off win and the highest scoring game in program history helped the James Madison softball team break in brand-new Veterans Memorial Park in style. The Dukes split a doubleheader in the first ever games in their new stadium winning game one against Longwood 9-8 and dropping game two 16-14.

With the split, Madison runs its record to 10-11, while the Lancers improved to 15-8.

Longwood ran out to a 13-1 lead after the top of the third inning of game two, before the Dukes scored 13 of the next 16 runs to make things interesting. LU hit five home runs in the game, including two by third baseman Amy Betterton, to open up its lead.

Betterton finished the game 2-for-2 with two runs scored, two runs batted in and a walk. Designated player Brooke Short went 4-for-4 with a home run, three runs scored and seven RBI. The Lancers also got home runs from left fielder Nicole Simmons and shortstop Ashley Kramer.

JMU began its comeback in the bottom of the third, scoring four runs off right-hander Brittany Spencer. It added five more in the fourth off Short, before capping the rally with a five-run fifth off left-handed reliever Briana Wells.

Sophomore designated player Casey Mansfield (Suffolk, Va./Isle of Wight) provided most of the damage, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a career-high six RBI. Mansfield hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth, her first of the season and second of her career. It was the first JMU home run in the new stadium.

Senior right fielder Courtney Simons (Richmond, Va./Deep Run) went 2-for-4 with three RBI, while freshman center fielder Jasmine Butler (Winter Garden, Fla./West Orange) had a double, a walk, an RBI and a career-high four runs scored. Senior first baseman Shannon Moxey (Church Road, Va./Mills Godwin) went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI.

Short picked up the win for LU to improve to 2-1. She gave up three hits, five runs, four of which were earned, walked one and struck out one in 2/3 innings of work. Wells picked up the save after pitching 3 2/3 innings. She gave up three hits, four runs, three walks and struck out one.

Freshman right-hander Heather Dindinger (Riner, Va./Auburn) received the loss for Madison to drop to 3-4. She gave up three hits, three runs, walked none and struck out one. Junior righ