DUKES LOSE SERIES FINALE 7-0 TO HOFSTRA

Sunday, April 11

Harrisonburg, Va.

12:00 p.m.

James Madison University

16-24, 4-5

Hofstra

27-6, 9-0

Hofstra

James Madison

4/11/2010 6:00:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va., April 11, 2010 - Hoftra hit three home runs and got a two-hit shutout from right-hander Olivia Galati to complete a Colonial Athletic Association series sweep with a 7-0 win over James Madison at Veterans Memorial Park on Sunday.

The Pride won its ninth straight to improve to 27-6 and 9-0 in the CAA. The Dukes dropped to 16-24 overall and 4-5 in conference.

Galati won her 12th consecutive decision to improve to 17-2. She allowed two hits and one walk while striking out five.

Freshman right-hander Cara Stecher (Ashburn, Va./Broad Run) took the loss to drop to 8-9. She allowed three runs on three hits and a walk in 3 1/3 innings. Freshman reliever Heather Dindinger (Riner, Va./Auburn) allowed three runs on three hits and two walks in 1 2/3 innings of relief while junior righty Olivia McPherson (Liberty, N.C./Southern Alamance) got the final six outs, giving up one unearned run on one hit and two walks.

Hofstra got homers from first baseman Michele DePasquale, third baseman Sara Michalowski and left fielder Becca Bigler. Michalowski finished 2-for-2 with two runs and two RBIs.

Freshman center fielder Jasmine Butler (Winter Garden, Fla./West Orange) and junior catcher Katie Spitzer (Broadway, Va./Broadway) had singles to lead the JMU offense. Sophomore shortstop Ashley Burnham (Danvers, Mass./Danvers) was the only other player to reach base after walking in the first.

DePasquale opened the scoring in the top of the fourth with her second home run of the weekend. The senior jumped on the first pitch of the at-bat, crushing it over the fence in right center. It was her fourth homer of the season. Three batters later, Michalowski made it 3-0 with a two-run shot. Right fielder Tessa Ziemba scored on the play after singling earlier in the inning.

HU increased the lead to 6-0 with its third home run of the game. After a Galati double and a single by Michalowski, Bigler pounced on a Dindinger offering for a three-run shot.

The Pride took advantage of a lead-off walk to add an insurance run in the seventh. DePasquale started the inning with a walk and moved to second on a passed ball. She scored on a two-out pinch hit b