JMU SOFTBALL SWEEPS HOME DOUBLEHEADER OVER GEORGE MASON

Saturday, April 2

Harrisonburg, Va.

12:00 p.m.

James Madison University

21-10, 3-1

George Mason

10-14, 1-3

George Mason

James Madison

4/2/2011 8:42:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

FAIRFAX, Va., April 2, 2011 – The James Madison offense exploded for 14 runs on 22 hits as JMU swept a doubleheader over George Mason at Veterans Memorial Park on Saturday. The Dukes won game one 7-1 before taking the nightcap 7-3.

JMU improved to 7-1 at home and has won eight of its last nine games to improve to 22-10 overall and 4-1 in Colonial Athletic Association play. Mason has lost four of its last five games to drop to 10-15 and 1-4 in the CAA.

In game two, sophomore starter Cara Stecher (New Castle, Del./Caravel Academy) earned the win to run her record to 10-1. She allowed three runs on four hits and five walks while striking out a season-high eight batters in 6 1/3 innings. Freshman right-hander Brittany Jeans (Camano Island, Wash./Stanwood) gave up one hit and one walk in 2/3 innings of relief.

Miranda Cranford allowed seven runs, five earned, on eight hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings to take the loss for the Patriots. Freshman Kelsey Byrd allowed two hits and struck out one in 1 2/3 innings of shutout relief.

Sophomore center fielder Jasmine Butler (Winter Garden, Fla./West Orange) led the offense, going 4-for-4 with a run and two RBIs while freshman third baseman Caitlin Sandy (Fayetteville, N.C./Jack Britt) added two hits, a run and a RBI. Sophomore first baseman Haley Johnson (Ashburn, Va./Broad Run) chipped in a three-run home run and junior shortstop Ashley Burnham (Danvers, Mass./Danvers) had a single, a run and a walk.

Shortstop Rachael Davies went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run to lead GMU. Second baseman Tori Dudley added a hit, two walks and a run scored.

The Dukes struck first in game two as Burnham led off with a single through the right side and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. After a strikeout, Butler hit a chopper up the middle for a single, scoring Burnham from second. The hit extended the sophomore's hitting streak to 15 games, the second-longest streak in school history.

Butler added her second RBI hit in the bottom of the third inning to give Madison a 2-0 edge. Burnham was hit by a pitch with one out before moving to third on a single up the middle by Sandy. After a failed suicide squeeze, Butler hit a grounder up the middle. GMU shortstop Rachel Davies made a diving stop on the play, but was unable to get the out at second, allowing Sandy to score from third.

JMU took advantage of a Mason error to add an unearned run in the fourth. Senior catcher Katie Spitzer (Broadway, Va./Broadway) started the rally by reaching on a fielding error by third baseman Megan blank. A fielder's choice retired freshman pinch runner