Tenth-Ranked Dukes Trounce Toledo 12-3 in Home Opener

Saturday, February 27

Harrisonburg, Va.

3 p.m.

James Madison University

10-1

Toledo

1-10

Toledo

James Madison

2/27/2016 7:55:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Tenth-ranked James Madison racked up seven runs in the first inning and conceded just three hits to Toledo, as it cruised to a 12-3 victory in five innings in the home opener at the Macado's Invitational on Saturday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Park.

The Dukes improved to 10-1 this season while the Rockets fell to 1-10 in 2016.

Sophomore infielder Morgan Tolle went 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs while senior pitcher/utility Jailyn Ford scored three runs after going 1-for-1 with a double, walk and hit by pitch. Junior outfielder Taylor Newton and junior utility Tahli Moore also scored two runs apiece.

Toledo scored two unearned runs in the first but the Dukes answered in the bottom half with seven runs on just three hits. After a lead-off hit by senior catcher Erica Field, Tolle launched her third homer of the season deep to left center to tie the game at 2-2. She stepped up to the plate later in the frame and came through with a two-RBI single to put the Dukes ahead 7-2.

JMU tacked on four more runs in the second, despite not recording a single hit, extending the advantage to 11-2. Sophomore pitcher Megan Good improved to 6-1 in the circle after allowing two unearned runs and one hit, while striking out five Toledo batters.

Heather Webb (0-2) took the loss for the Rockets after allowing five runs (four earned), two hits and three walks while not recording a single out. Jessica Lemieux hit 1-for-2 with two runs in the loss.

QUOTING COACH DEAN
"It's nice to get a win in front of the home crowd. I wasn't real happy with that first inning though. I'm not sure if it's our fault as a coaching staff or their fault, but we weren't ready to play that first inning. I actually thanked Morgan coming around on that home run. I said 'thank you' because we needed something to get us going and that was a really nice way to respond."

PHOTO OF THE GAME

Niki Prince makes a diving stop on a grounder to short.

TOLLE DRIVING IN THE RUNS
Morgan Tolle tallied a career-high four RBIs in Saturday's win off a pair of first-inning hits. After launching a homer deep to left center, she stepped up later in JMU's seven-run inning, driving in two more with a single.

TWEET OF THE GAME

No better way to spend a Saturday than with softball! @JMUSports @JMU_Softball pic.twitter.com/ibgNzCpUT2
— Cassidy Greenzeig (@greenzca) February 27, 2016

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF TOLEDO MISCUES
JMU was able to plate 12 runs on just five hits in the ballgame but most of JMU's scoring occurred off of pitching and defensive blunders. The Dukes accrued six walks and had two batters hit by a pitch while Toledo committed three errors. Only five of JMU's 12 runs were earned.

UP NEXT
JMU returns to action on Sunday with back-to-back games to close the Macado's Invitational. The Dukes take on Saint Joseph's at 2:30 p.m., followed by Robert Morris at 4:30 p.m.