VIRGINIA HOLDS OFF LATE JMU RALLY FOR 5-4 WIN

Wednesday, March 31

Harrisonburg, Va.

6:00 p.m.

James Madison University

14-18

Virginia

19-13

Virginia

James Madison

4/1/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va., March 31, 2010 - Sophomore shortstop Ashley Burnham (Danvers, Mass./Danvers) went 2-for-4 with a home run and a two-run double, but it was not enough as Virginia edged James Madison 5-4 in non-conference softball action at Veterans Memorial Park on Wednesday.

UVA won its fourth straight to improve to 19-13. The Dukes drop to 14-18 overall and 3-5 in their new stadium.

Melanie Mitchell went the distance for the Cavaliers to pick up the win. She allowed four runs and struck out eight to improve to 15-9.

Junior right-hander Olivia McPherson (Liberty, N.C./Southern Alamance) took the loss to drop to 3-3. She did not allow a hit but walked two in two innings of relief. Freshman Heather Dindinger (Riner, Va./Auburn) drew the start and gave up two hits and four walks in 2 2/3 scoreless innings. Fellow freshman Cara Stecher (New Castle, Del./Caravel Academy) allowed three runs on four hits in 2 1/3 innings of relief.

Alex Skinkis went 2-for-3 with a two runs and an RBI to lead the UVA attack. Clara Kendall chipped in with a double and three RBIs.

In addition to her two hits, Burnham had a run scored and three RBIs for Madison. Senior left fielder Brittney Dyson (Waldorf, Md./Thomas Stone) joined Burnham with two hits. She went 2-for-2 with a run and a stolen base. Senior first baseman Shannon Moxey (Church Road, Va./Mills Godwin) and junior catcher Katie Spitzer (Broadway, Va./Broadway) each had a double with Spitzer adding a run scored.

JMU struck first, grabbing a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth. Junior catcher Katie Spitzer (Broadway, Va./Broadway) started things off with a one-out double to right center. She moved to third when freshman third baseman Haley Johnson's (Ashburn, Va./Broad Run) single found the gap between the shortstop and center fielder. Sophomore second baseman