Dukes Cap Off Perfect Weekend With Wins Over Penn State, Western Carolina

Sunday, February 25

Jacksonville, Fla.

9 A.M.

James Madison University

8-2

Penn State

1-10

James Madison

Penn State

Dukes Cap Off Perfect Weekend With Wins Over Penn State, Western Carolina

2/25/2018 3:32:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Penn State Box Score Western Carolina Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The James Madison softball team closed out a perfect weekend (4-0) after defeating Penn State 4-1 and Western Carolina 2-0 on Sunday morning at the Green & Gold Classic in Jacksonville, Fla.

The Dukes are now 9-2 on the season while Penn State fell to 1-10 and Western Carolina moved to 3-6. Sophomore pitcher Odicci Alexander and freshman pitcher Payton Buresch teamed up as they both earned two wins and two saves on the weekend, only allowing three earned runs over four games.

GAME ONE – PENN STATE

Buresch pitched four complete innings only allowing one run on four hits while striking out four over 15 batters faced. With the win, she moved to 4-1 on the season. Alexander was credited with the save after pitching three innings, facing only nine batters, striking out four.
Senior Morgan Tolle led the Dukes at the plate going 2-for-2 scoring one run and walked twice.
Tolle opened the game with a double to left field, and Michala Pellegrino would come in to pinch run. Alexander at her first at bat singled to the pitcher which allowed Pellegrino to advance a base. Penn State would make a fielding error in the infield allowing Pellegrino to come home, giving the Dukes an early lead.
The Nittany Lions would answer quickly in the bottom of the first after the leadoff batter walked and stole second to get in scoring position. Two batters later she would find herself coming home after a single up the middle.
In the top of the fourth Lynsey Meeks came in as a pinch hitter and would single up the middle allowing Gordon who reached on a walk time to score, giving the Dukes the lead, 2-1.
Alexander hit a 2 RBI double up the middle in the top of the fifth that scored Tolle and Cambry Arnold who reached on a fielder's choice and a walk, respectively.

GAME TWO – WESTERN CAROLINA

At bat neither teams could string anything together through the first three and a half innings. The Dukes broke through in the bottom of the fourth as the batters were patient at the plate. Two batters would walk and Western Carolina made a pitching change. The new pitcher also walked two batters which would put the Dukes on the board first. Senior Ashley Samuels was credited with the RBI on the walk as she sent pinch runner Debbie Stuart home.
Sophomore Kate Gordon led the Dukes offensively garnering two hits at four at bats scoring one run. She doubled down the left field line in the bottom of the fifth inning and would advance home after a single to right field from senior Jessica Mrozek. She added a single up the middle in the bottom of the sixth but would be stranded on second base.
Alexander was credited with the win in the circle after pitching five innings only allowing one hit while striking out four, throwing a total of 97 pitches. Buresch picked up her second save of the weekend after coming in for the final two innings. She faced eight batters and only allowed one hit while striking out one.

QUOTING COACH LAPORTE
"Leaving Florida with four wins speaks volumes to the determination our team has to win. We didn't play our best softball this weekend, there were a lot of little errors that we need to clean up and learn from, but I am extremely proud of the fight and strength the girls had out on that field this weekend. I was pleased with Payton and Odicci who fought in the circle to get the job done, and some of our fielders who had big plays that made a difference in the outcome of the games today."

UP NEXT
The Dukes travel to Hawaii for spring break and will play eleven games while in the aloha state. They will face California first at 4 p.m. ET on Friday, March 2 before playing the night cap against UTEP at 8:30 p.m. ET.