Softball Drops Doubleheader to Radford in Home Opener

Tuesday, February 28

Harrisonburg, Va.

3:00 PM

James Madison University

3-5

Radford

3-3

Radford

James Madison

2/29/2012 1:18:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va., Feb. 28, 2012 – Pitcher/designated player Micalah Sacre had three hits, including a home run and earned a win in the circle to help lead Radford to a doubleheader sweep over the James Madison softball team at Veterans Memorial Park on Tuesday. RU won game one 3-2 and claimed the nightcap by a score of 6-3.

In game two, Sacre limited the Dukes to one run on five hits and a walk in 5 2/3 innings. She struck out four to improve to 2-1 on the year. Emily Norton and Stephanie Dameron combined to give up two runs on on four hits in 1 1/3 innings of relief.

Freshman right-hander Reba DePriest (Apache Junction, Ariz./Skyline) took the loss for JMU. She dropped to 0-2 after giving up five runs, three earned on nine hits in six innings pitched. She walked three and struck out three before giving way to sophomore right-hander Brittany Jeans (Camano Island, Wash./Stanwood). Jeans ceded one unearned run on two walks in an inning of relief.

Offensively, the Highlanders were led by catcher Michelle Beall who went 2-for-4 with a run and a RBI. Left fielder Ryndee Ruch added two hits, a walk and a run scored while shortstop Nichole Beall went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk and two runs scored.

Senior shortstop Ashley Burnham (Danvers, Mass./Danvers) went 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBIs to pace the Madison offense. Freshman right fielder Morgan Heath (Yorktown, Va./Grafton) went 2-for-3 with a RBI while sophomore third baseman Caitlin Sandy (Fayetteville, N.C./Jack Britt) singled, walked and scored a run in two at-bats.

Radford struck for a run in the top of the first inning to take an early lead. Nicole Beall led off the game with double off the wall in right field. She moved to third on a ground-out and scored on an infield single by Michelle Beall.

Radford added to its lead in the top of the fourth inning. Second baseman Jackie Warr started the frame with a one-out infield single. She moved to third on a single through the right side by Ruch and scored on a double off the wall in right field by first baseman Jessie Hutchens. DePriest worked her way out of further damage by getting pinch hitter Frankie Martinez to strike out and center fielder Hannah Ojeda to ground-out.

The Highlanders scored an unearned run in the top of the sixth to extend the lead to 3-0. Ruch started the inning with a one-out single up the middle. She moved to second on a walk by Hutchens and both runners moved up on a sacrifice bunt. A passed ball granted the Radford and unearned, scoring Ruch from