Home Runs Lead Dukes Past Elon Twice

Saturday, April 21

Elon, NC

1 P.M.

James Madison University

31-10, 11-2

Elon

22-23, 4-9

James Madison

Elon

4/21/2018 8:03:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 @JMUSoftball Box Score - Game 1 Box Score - Game 2

ELON, N.C. – The James Madison softball team tallied five home runs, three from senior Morgan Tolle on Saturday afternoon in a doubleheader at Elon to take a 7-0 shutout decision and a 5-2 victory. The Dukes racked up 19 hits on the day, good for 12 runs to take the series win.

JMU improved to 32-10 overall and 12-2 in Colonial Athletic Association play. Elon fell to 20-24 and 4-10 in league action.

Tolle led the Dukes at the plate going 3-for-4 in game two as she had a leadoff home run on the fourth pitch of the game and followed it up with a three RBI home run in the second to give the Dukes an early advantage. Senior Jessica Mrozek was also credited with an RBI after a single up the middle sent Sara Jubas home, who reached base on her own single to center field.

Freshman Payton Buresch got the job done in the circle, picking up her 15th win on the season after hurling four innings of relief, allowing no runs on just four hits while walking one and fanning three. All three of her strikeouts came in the sixth inning as she sat down the Phoenix in order. Sophomore Odicci Alexander got the start, pitching three innings allowing two runs on four hits while striking out five over 14 batters faced.

In game one the Dukes tallied 12 hits, three of which were home runs. Tolle put the Dukes on the board first with a two RBI home run to left center. Alexander went 3-for-4 with three doubles and sophomore Kate Gordon was perfect at the plate going 3-for-3 while picking up three RBI after a two RBI home run in the seventh. Jubas also sent a long ball down the left field line, recording her fourth home run of her career.

Alexander recorded her 17th win of the season in the circle after coming in for relief, pitching four innings of work. The Boydton, Va. product only allowed one hit over 13 batters faced, striking out three. Buresch got the start and only allowed three hits while walking three in the shutout.

QUICK HITS

Tolle recorded her 10th, 11th and 12th home runs of the season and 28th of her career
Gordon recorded her 9th long ball of the season and 12th of her career
Jubas picked up her 4th home run of the year and of her career
Tolle had her second game of the season where she recorded four RBI

QUOTING COACH LAPORTE
"Always a good day when you can walk away with two conference wins. I was really pleased with our production at the plate, the last few games we had hit a slump so to get out of that was huge. Today we played as a full team to get the job done and that's what we need at this time of year. Proud of Morgan for stepping up to the plate and leading the team today and for Odicci and Payton for being the duo we needed in the circle."

UP NEXT
The Dukes will go for the series sweep tomorrow at Elon, first pitch is slated for 1 p.m.