#23 Dukes Split Friday Games with Long Beach State and Louisiana Tech

Friday, February 9

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

3 P.M.

James Madison University

1-1

Long Beach State

3-0

Long Beach State

James Madison

#23 Dukes Split Friday Games with Long Beach State and Louisiana Tech

2/9/2018 6:34:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score Box Score - Game 2 2018 Schedule

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO – No. 23 James Madison softball suffered its first defeat of the season falling 4-2 to Long Beach State on Friday afternoon in extra innings before picking up a 1-0 win over Louisiana Tech on Friday night at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge.

GAME ONE - LONG BEACH STATE
Sophomore Odicci Alexander (0-1) was tagged with her first loss after pitching 7 1/3 innings allowing four runs off six hits, while striking out three. The Boydton, Va. product was the powerhouse on offense as well, as she scored a home run over the left field wall in the bottom of the fourth to equalize the game.

Freshman Sara Jubas was the only other Duke to be credited with a hit as she singled through the left side in the bottom of the eighth.

TALE OF THE TAPE
The pitching duel started early as neither team placed a runner on base until the third inning. Long Beach State recorded a single in the third but the Dukes defense was able to get them off the field to keep the score at zero. The momentum would stay with the 49ers as they found a way to score in the fourth with a double and single down the lines.

James Madison answered with Alexander's home run and the game would remain knotted at 1-1 through the end of regulation.

Heading into the eighth, the international tiebreaker rule was enforced and Long Beach quickly scored as a line drive single was hit right back at Alexander who was unable to make the play. The next batter ripped a triple down the right field line allowing another runner to come home. The Dukes made a pitching change as senior Jessica McCabe came in relief to close out the game.

The Dukes plated one in the bottom of the eighth but could not overcome a two run defect to hand JMU its first loss of the young season.

GAME TWO - LOUISIANA TECH
In the circle, freshman Payton Buresch (2-0) pitched her first complete game victory, only allowing four hits on three walks over 30 batters faced while striking out seven.

The Dukes had four hits and left six batters on base over the course of the game.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The game remained scoreless through the bottom of the seventh before freshman Sara Jubas reached base on a throwing error by the third baseman and then advanced to second. Junior Paige Mitchell hit a single to center field to advance Jubas to third. Louisiana Tech decided to make a pitching change for the second time of the game with no outs and a runner in scoring position. The first pitch from the relief pitcher ends up being wild giving Jubas enough room to score, sealing the victory for the Dukes.

QUOTING COACH LAPORTE
"I'm proud of the way we battled today. We made a few too many mistakes in the first game and we could have let that beat us twice, but we came out tonight and refocused to get back on the right side of things. Payton pitched a great game for us and we made the right plays at the right times to pick up the win."

UP NEXT
The Dukes take the field again on Saturday evening at 6 p.m where they will again face Long Beach State before again taking on Louisiana Tech at 9 p.m.