MCPHERSON'S THREE-HITTER LEADS DUKES TO DOUBLEHEADER SPLIT

Saturday, April 24

Harrisonburg, Va.

12:00 p.m.

James Madison University

17-29, 5-8

Towson

29-15, 8-5

Towson

James Madison

MCPHERSON'S THREE-HITTER LEADS DUKES TO DOUBLEHEADER SPLIT

4/24/2010 9:00:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

HARRISONBURG, Va., April 24, 2010 - Junior pitcher Olivia McPherson (Liberty, N.C./Southern Alamance) threw a complete-game, three-hitter in game two against Towson to lead James Madison to a split in Colonial Athletic Association doubleheader action on Saturday. The Dukes won game two 5-1 at Veterans Memorial Park, while the Tigers took game one 7-4.

The Dukes have won two of their last three games to improve to 18-29 overall and 6-8 in the CAA. Towson ran its record to 29-16 and 8-6 in conference.

McPherson faced five batters above the minimum to improve to 4-5 on the season. She gave up one run on three hits and two walks while striking out a season-high six batters. McPherson's previous season-high was four at Florida A&M on March 10.

Right-hander Shannon Johnston took the loss to drop to 8-6. The senior allowed five runs, four earned, on ten hits and a walk in 5 1/3 innings. Dominique Ortega pitched 2/3 innings of perfect relief.

Freshman Jasmine Butler (Winter Garden, Fla./West Orange) went 3-for-3 with a double, a run scored and a steal to pace the JMU offense. Senior right fielder Courtney Simons (Richmond, Va./Deep Run) chipped in with two hits, a double, a run and an RBI while sophomore shortstop Ashley Burnham (Danvers, Mass./Danvers) went 2-for-4 with a run and a stolen base.

Third baseman Stef Streets recorded two of the three Towson hits, going 2-for-3 with a double and a run. Catcher Courtney Wittner drove in TU's only run with a single.

Madison scored first for the fourth straight game, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Freshman designated player Lori Botkin (Manassas, Va./Osbourn) started a two-out rally, battling Johnston for 12 pitches before working a walk. She scored on a double down the left-field line by senior left fielder Brittney Dyson (Waldorf, Md./Thomas Stone).

The Dukes tacked on a run in the third for a 2-0 lead on a single by junior catcher Katie Spitzer (Broadway, Va./Broadway). Simons scored on the play after singling to lead off the inning and moving to second on a sacrifice bunt.