JMU WINS GAME, SERIES OVER DREXEL

Sunday, May 2

Philadelphia, Pa.

11:00 a.m.

James Madison University

20-31, 8-10

Drexel

20-21, 8-10

James Madison

Drexel

5/2/2010 7:00:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA, Pa., May 2, 2010 - Junior catcher Katie Spitzer (Broadway, Va./Broadway) hit her ninth home run of the season and pitchers Olivia McPherson (Liberty, N.C./Southern Alamance) and Cara Stecher (New Castle, Del./Caravel Academy) limited Drexel to two unearned runs as James Madison beat Drexel 7-2 in Colonial Athletic Association softball action in Philadelphia, Pa. on Sunday.

The Dukes earned their third CAA series win of the season and improved to 20-31 overall and 8-10 in conference play. The Dragons had their streak of three straight conference series victories snapped and fell to 20-21 overall and 8-10 in the CAA.

Stecher picked up the win for Madison to improve to 10-14. The freshman gave up one unearned run on two hits and three walks in 3 1/3 innings of relief. She relived McPherson who gave up one unearned run on four hits and three walks in 3 2/3 innings pitched.

Katrina Gaudier took the loss to drop to 4-7. The senior allowed six runs, three earned, on seven hits in two innings pitched. Right-hander Hillary Allen pitched five innings of relief, giving up one unearned run on four hits and a walk.

Spitzer moved into a tie for second with Jenn Chavez (2005-08) on the school's single-season home run list with nine. She finished the game 3-for-4 with a run and three RBIs. Sophomore shortstop Ashley Burnham (Danvers, Mass./Danvers) went 3-for-4 and scored her conference-leading 34th run of the season. Freshman designated player Lori Botkin (Manassas, Va./Osbourn) contributed a double and a run scored.

Laura Stagliano stayed hot for the Dragons, going 2-for-3 with two runs and two steals. Amanda Bachmann had two hits and an RBI while Paige Collings finished 2-for-4.

JMU scored in each of the first three innings to take control of the game early. Drexel scored unearned runs in the second and sixth inning but never shrunk the deficit to less than five.

In the first inning, Burnham led off the game with an infield single before moving to third on a single down the right-field line by senior right fielder Courtney Simons (Richmond, Va./Deep Run).