Explosive Offense, Shutdown Pitching Leads Softball to Doubleheader Sweep

Wednesday, April 11

Harrisonburg, Va.

3:30 PM

James Madison University

21-20

Elon

17-12

Elon

James Madison

Explosive Offense, Shutdown Pitching Leads Softball to Doubleheader Sweep

4/12/2012 12:25:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

HARRISONBURG, Va., April 11, 2012 – James Madison players hit four home runs, including two from senior shortstop Ashley Burnham (Danvers, Mass./Danvers) and four pitchers combined to limit Elon to one run over 12 innings in a doubleheader sweep at Veterans Memorial Park on Wednesday. JMU won game one 10-1 in game one before grabbing the nightcap 7-0.

The Dukes ran their win streak to 10 straight to improve to 22-20 overall. It is the first time the team has been over .500 since it was 8-7 back on March 7. The Phoenix dropped their eighth straight to fall to 17-13.

In game two, freshman right-hander Sarah Mooney (Huntersville, N.C./North Mecklenburg) tossed four innings of shutout ball to improve to 7-8 on the season. She scattered four hits and two walks while striking out five. Junior pitcher Cara Stecher (New Castle, Del./Caravel Academy) earned the save by tossing three innings of shutout relief. She gave up three hits while walking two and striking out two.

Caitlin O'Shea took the loss for Elon to drop to 2-3. She allowed five runs on seven hits and two walks in 3 1/3 innings pitched. Chelsea White pitched the final 2 2/3 innings of relief, giving up two runs on four hits and striking out three.

Mooney and junior center fielder Jasmine Butler (Winter Garden, Fla./West Orange) each collected three hits apiece to power the Madison offense. Butler went 3-for-4 with a run and a RBI while Mooney went 3-for-3 with a home run, two runs and a RBI. Senior second baseman Caitlen Manning (Prince George, Va./Prince George) added two hits, including a double, a run and two RBIs.

Center fielder Carleigh Nester went 2-for-3 with a walk to pace the Phoenix attack. Left fielder Tomeka Watson chipped in a pair of bunt singles while pinch hitter Aly Quintana singled in her only trip to the plate.

Madison quickly grabbed a 4-0 lead in game two on a trio of RBI hits in the bottom of the first. Butler singled up the middle to lead off the frame. She stole second and scored on a double to left-center by Burnham. Burnham moved to third on a groundout and scored on a single through the left side by Mooney. Walks by sophomore third baseman Caitlin Sandy (Fayetteville, N.C./Jack Britt) and sophomore catcher Catherine Clavin (Poquoson, Va./Poquoson) loaded up the bases before junior second baseman Caitlen Manning (Prince George, Va./Prince George) singled to right, scoring two.

The double by Burnham was her 41st career two-bagger, tying he