Softball Splits CAA Doubleheader with Drexel on Sunday

Sunday, March 25

Philadelphia, Pa.

11:00 AM

James Madison University

11-18, 1-1

Drexel

10-12, 1-1

James Madison

Drexel

3/25/2012 7:19:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

PHILADELPHIA, Pa., March 25, 2012 – Two different players recorded three-hit games, including junior first baseman Haley Johnson (Ashburn, Va./Broad Run) recording her 100th career hit, to lead the James Madison softball team to a split in a Colonial Athletic Association doubleheader at Drexel in Philadelphia, Pa., on Sunday. DU won game one 6-0 while JMU rebounded to take game two 9-8.

JMU jumped out to a 2-1 start in CAA play and improved to 12-18 on the season. Drexel opened conference play at 1-2 and dropped to 10-13 on the year.

In game two, the Dukes jumped out to lead of 8-0 and 9-1 and held off a late Dragon rally for the 9-8 win.

Freshman right-hander Sarah Mooney (Huntersville, N.C./North Mecklenburg) earned the win to improve to 4-7. She allowed seven runs, five earned, on 10 hits and four walks while striking out eight. Junior pitcher Cara Stecher (New Castle, Del./Caravel Academy) earned the save in relief, allowing one run on two hits and struck out one in one inning pitched.

Shelby Taylor took the loss for DU, dropping to 4-6 on the season. She allowed eight runs, three earned, on six hits and a walk in 1 1/3 inning pitched. Hillary Allen pitched the final 5 2/3 in relief and gave up one run on four hits and two walks while striking out one.

Johnson paced the Dukes offense, going 3-for-4 with two runs and four RBIs. Sophomore third baseman Caitlin Sandy (Fayetteville, N.C./Jack Britt) added a 3-for-4 showing with a run and two RBIs while senior second baseman Caitlen Manning (Prince George, Va./Prince George) added a single and two RBIs.

Center fielder Comfort Ahonkhai went 3-for-4 with two runs and a RBI to lead the Dragons in game two. Left fielder Hanna Parrish chipped in two hits and three RBIs while third baseman Caprice Demirjian went 2-for-3 with a run and a RBI.

JMU jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead by batting around in the top of the first. The Dukes loaded the bases on a walk, a single by junior center fielder Jasmine Butler (Winter Garden, Fla./West Orange) and a fielding error. Johnson followed with a two-run single into the left-center gap to put JMU up 2-0. After a pop-out, Sandy singled to right-center for another run before Manning capped the inning with a two-out, two-run single down the right-field line.

Johnson's s