Softball Splits Doubleheader on Day One of Citrus Classic

Friday, March 1

Orlando, Fla.

3:30 PM

James Madison University

7-4

Pittsburgh

6-6

James Madison

Pittsburgh

Softball Splits Doubleheader on Day One of Citrus Classic

3/2/2013 2:34:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

ORLANDO, Fla., March 1, 2013 – Pittsburgh earned a 3-2 walk-off win in the bottom of the seventh inning of game one to open the day, but the James Madison softball team responded with a 7-0 win over the College of Charleston in game two to earn a split on day one of the Diamond 9 Citrus Classic in Orlando, Fla., Friday.

JMU opened the tournament with a 1-1 record and ran its overall record to 8-4. Pittsburgh improved to 6-6 while Charleston saw its seven-game winning streak snapped in falling to 7-4.

In game two against the College of Charleston, freshman pitcher Jailyn Ford (Hot Springs, Va./Bath County) tossed four shutout innings and hit her third home run of the season to earn the win. She limited the Cougars to one hit and two walks while striking out nine to improve 4-0. Sophomore pitcher Reba DePriest (Apache Junction, Ariz./Skyline) earned her first career save by tossing three innings of shutout relief. The right-hander struck out seven and allowed one hit.

The 16 combined strikeouts was a new team record for the Dukes. The previous mark was 15 set on March 25, 2009 against George Washington.

Stephanie Saylors took the loss to drop to 3-1. She gave up four runs on three hits and a walk in one inning of work. Valerie Cassell allowed two runs on four hits and two walks in 2 2/3 innings of relief while Jen Rosene ceded one run on three hits in 3 1/3 innings of relief.

Junior shortstop Caitlin Sandy (Fayetteville, N.C./Jack Britt) paced the JMU offense with two hits, including a home run, three RBIs and a run scored. Senior designated player Megan Shinaberry (Davie, Fla./McCarthy) went 2-for-2 with two runs, two steals and a walk while Ford was 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs.

Cassell finished 1-for-3 at the plate while catcher Courtney Clark had the team's other hit. Third baseman Kelsey Hodgson and shortstop Lizzy Vaughn picked up a walk each.

JMU jumped in front of Charleston in the top of the second inning, scoring four runs on a pair of two-run home runs. Sophomore first baseman Sarah Mooney (Huntersville, N.C./North Mecklenburg) led off the inning with a walk. She stole second and came in to score on a home run to right-center field by Ford. It was Ford's third homer of the season with all of them coming against the College of Charleston.

Shinaberry singled to c