#23 Dukes Comeback to Win Season Opener Over Nevada

Thursday, February 8

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

8 P.M.

James Madison University

1-0

Nevada

1-1

Nevada

James Madison

2/8/2018 11:55:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score 2018 Schedule

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO – Behind an explosive second inning by the James Madison softball offense, the Dukes held off a charging Nevada team to win their 2018 season opener 8-7 at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge on Thursday evening.

In her collegiate debut, freshman Payton Buresch pitched 4 1/3 innings, tallying six strikeouts while only allowing three hits and one unearned run after coming in for relief of Odicci Alexander.

Senior Morgan Tolle led the Dukes at the plate, going 2-for-4 with three RBI. Sophomore Cambry Arnold capped off the evening with a 2-for-3 day with two RBI and a double.

BY THE PLAYS
Nevada jumped out to an early lead, plating three before the Dukes found a rhythm in the bottom of the second. Ashley Samuels got the rally started, leading off with a walk before Kate Gordon got the first hit of the season with a single to center field. Freshman Sara Jubas grounded out to second, but advanced the runners and scored Samuels to get the Dukes on the board. The next three batters all singled and eventually scored, plating five runs in the bottom of the second.

The Wolfpack quickly equalized the game at 5-all, capped by a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring a runner who originally reached on a wild pitch. Nevada regained the lead (6-5) before the Dukes made a change in the circle. Buresch got the Dukes out of the jam with a strikeout to end the third inning.

The Dukes were unphased and opened the bottom half of the inning with a home run from sophomore Kierstin Roadcap, tying the game at 6-6.

The back-and-forth battle on offense continued through the fourth as Nevada scored another run in the top of the inning. The Dukes answered with two runs their next round at the plate thanks to a single from Tolle and a double from Arnold. Arnold's extra-base knock was the last JMU hit of the game, but was enough to seal the season-opening victory.

CHARMING START
The Dukes have now won three straight season-opening games and six of their last eight.

QUOTING COACH LAPORTE
"It was great to see the team rally together and grit out a win to open the season. I think we had a rough start but quickly found the spark we needed. I was extremely proud of the way our freshmen stepped up tonight and handled the adversity we faced. I hope that the team takes away key lessons from some mistakes we made and will use them to be stronger the rest of the season."

UP NEXT
The Dukes are back in action Friday at 3 p.m. as they take on Long Beach State in the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge before playing a night contest against Louisiana Tech at 9 p.m.