JMU SOFTBALL CLOSES OUT CHARLOTTE CLASSIC WITH 6-2 WIN

Sunday, February 27

Charlotte, N.C.

11 a.m.

James Madison University

7-3

Seton Hall

4-5

Seton Hall

James Madison

2/27/2011 7:21:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 27, 2011 – Junior second baseman Caitlen Manning (Prince George, Va./Prince George) hit a solo home run and senior right-hander Olivia McPherson (Liberty, N.C./Southern Alamance) allowed one run in four innings of relief to lead the James Madison softball team to a 6-2 win over Seton Hall in the final game of the Charlotte Green and White Classic on Sunday.

JMU improved to 4-1 in the tournament with the win and 7-3 this season. Seton Hall dropped to 4-5 overall.

McPherson limited the Pirates to one run on three hits and three walks while striking out one to improve to 4-1 on the season. Freshman Brittany Jeans (Camano Island, Wash./Stanwood) drew the start. She allowed one run on three hits and a walk in three innings of work.

Hannah Hill took the loss to drop to 0-4. The right-hander allowed four runs on four hits and a walk while striking out one. Brooke Tull gave up two runs in 2 1/3 innings of relief. She gave up three hits and struck out three.

Manning's home run was her third of the season and the seventh of her career. She finished the game 1-for-3 with a run scored and a RBI. Sophomore first baseman Haley Johnson (Ashburn, Va./Broad Run) added a 2-for-3 day with a double and a RBI while junior shortstop Ashley Burnham (Danvers, Mass./Danvers) had a triple and a run scored. Redshirt senior Chel'sea Ryan (Sandston, Va./Henrico) had a single, two steals, a run and a RBI.

SHU was led by right fielder Michelle Reed who went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Shortstop Brittany Hammer walked twice and scored a run while second baseman Brittany Schillizzi and designated player Jamie Gates each contributed RBIs.

The Pirates plated a run in the top of the first inning to take the early lead. Reed was hit by a pitch to lead off the game. She moved to second on a ground-out and scored on a two-out single up the middle by Schillizzi.

The Dukes came right back to even the score in the bottom half of the inning. Ryan started the rally with a hit-by-pitch and moved to third on a steal and a ground-out. She scored on a wild pitch.

Manning's led off the fourth with a solo blast to left-center field to give JMU the lead for good. Madison added a second run in the inning on a sacrifice fly by sophomore right fielder Lori Botkin (Manassas, Va./Osbourn). Sophomore center fielder Jasmine Butler (Winter Garden, Fla./West Orange) scored on the play. She walked and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by freshman designated player Catherine Clavin (Puquoson, Va./Puquoson).