James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
James Madison University
7-7
Mercer
14-7
SOFTBALL DROPS BUZZ CLASSIC FINALE 3-1 TO MERCER
3/7/2010 4:00:00 PM | Softball
WOODSTOCK, Ga., March 7, 2010 - James Madison pitchers walked in two runs and right-hander Jenni Holtz struck out 10 as Mercer defeated the Dukes 3-1 in the finale of the Georgia Tech Buzz Classic at the Twin Peaks Softball Complex in Woodstock, Ga. on Sunday.
JMU dropped its third straight and fell to 7-7 on the season, while the Bears improved to 14-7 overall and 3-1 in the tournament.
Holtz went the distance for Mercer, giving up four hits and one run on her way to improving to 8-3. The junior allowed just four hits and struck out and walked one in seven innings pitched.
The Bears struck for three runs in the top of the third inning, taking advantage of four JMU walks in the frame. Catcher Brandy Keeter led off the inning with a single to left before being lifted for pinch runner Anna Johnson. Left fielder Holly Oglesbee walked before third baseman Lilli Luke singled to center field to score Johnson and give Mercer a 1-0 lead. Freshman right-hander Heather Dindinger (Riner, Va./Auburn) came in to relieve freshman starter Cara Stecher (New Castle, Del./Caravel Academy) but walked three of the next four batters to extend the lead to 3-0.
Stecher took the loss for Madison to fall to 3-5. The right-hander gave up three hits, three runs, walked two and struck out four in 2 1/3 innings pitched.
Junior right-hander Heather Widner (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Ready) relieved Dindinger to escape the bases loaded jam. Widner gave up one hit and walked one in 4 1/3 innings pitched.
The Dukes cut the lead to two with a run in the bottom of the fourth. Sophomore shortstop Ashley Burnham (Danvers, Mass./Danvers) led off the inning with a single to right and moved to second on a Mercer error. Freshman third baseman Haley Johnson (Ashburn, Va./Auburn) picked up the RBI with a single to center field that scored Burnham.
Johnson finished the game 2-for-3 with two singles, while junior pinch hitter Katie Spitzer (Broadway, Va./Broadway) was 1-for-1 with a single.
Oglesbee, Luke, Keeter and pinch hitter Emi Sherrill had one hit apiece. Oglesbee and Sherrill both had doubles.
The Dukes travel to Tallahassee, Fla. o
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: HOLTZ, Jenni (8-3)
L: Stecher, Cara (3-5)
Batting:
2B: OGLESBEE, Holly 1 ; SHERRILL, Emi 1
RBI: LUKE, Lilli 1
SH: OGLESBEE, Holly 1
Base Running:
RUNS: OGLESBEE, Holly 1 ; ALIG, Ashlei 1 ; JOHNSON, Anna 1
SB: ALIG, Ashlei 1 ; JOHNSON, Anna 1
Batting:
RBI: Johnson, Haley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Burnham, Ashley 1
