DUKES WIN SERIES FINALE, 4-3, OVER GEORGIA STATE

Sunday, April 18

Atlanta, Ga.

12:00 p.m.

James Madison University

17-28, 5-7

Georgia State

29-14, 8-4

James Madison

Georgia State

4/18/2010 6:00:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

ATLANTA, Ga., April 18, 2010 - Senior right fielder Courtney Simons (Richmond, Va./Deep Run) went 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, a run scored and three RBIs to lead James Madison to a 4-3 Colonial Athletic Association win in the series finale against Georgia State at Bob Heck Field in Atlanta, Ga. on Sunday.

JMU snapped its nine-game losing streak to improve to 17-28 overall and 5-7 in the CAA. GSU dropped to 29-14 this season and 8-4 in conference.

Freshman right-hander Cara Stecher (New Castle, Del./Caravel Academy) threw her seventh career complete game to improve to 9-11 on the season. She allowed three runs, two earned, on ten hits and a walk. The rookie struck out five in seven innings of work.

After picking up a win and a save on Saturday, right-hander Alana Thomas took the loss to drop to 9-4. The reigning CAA Rookie of the Year allowed three runs on four hits in three innings pitched. Heather Lowry allowed a run on two hits and one walk in two innings of relief while McCall Langford pitched the final two innings. She gave up one hit and struck out two.

Simons homered for the second time in her last four games and ran her hitting streak to four games to lead the Dukes' offense. Sophomore Ashley Burnham (Danvers, Mass./Danvers) chipped in with a home run, a walk, two runs and an RBI.

First baseman Lauren Jones had three hits and drove in all three Panther runs. Designated player Cassie Boese contributed two hits and a run scored.

JMU wasted no time taking the lead as Burnham led off the game with a solo home run to left field. It was the seventh homer of the year for the sophomore tying her for fourth on the single-season list.

The Panthers fought back to even the game in the bottom of the first. Boese started the inning with an infield single. She moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and a ground-out before scoring on a single by first baseman Lauren Jones.

Simons regained the lead for Madison with a two-run shot in the third. Senior left fielder Brittney Dyson (Waldorf, Md./Thomas Stone) led off the inning with a single to center. She advanced to second on an infield single by freshman center fielder Jasmine Butler (Winter Garden, Fla./West Orange). After a double play, Simons deposited her fourth home run of the year over the fence in right for a 3-1 lead.