Powerful Offense Leads Dukes Past Blue Hens

Friday, April 6

Harrisonburg, Va.

1 P.M.

James Madison University

25-8, 6-1

Delaware

8-23, 2-5

Delaware

James Madison

4/6/2018 5:58:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 @JMU_Softball Photo Gallery Box Score - Game 1 Box Score - Game 2

HARRISONBURG, Va. – The James Madison softball team tallied 26 hits and 26 runs on the day, downing Delaware to open the weekend series. The Dukes put up two double-digit performances, winning the first game 11-4 and blanking the Blue Hens in the second game, 15-0.

The Dukes are 26-8 overall and 7-1 in Colonial Athletic Association play. The Blue Hens moved to 8-24 on the season and 2-6 in conference play.

Four Dukes turned in multiple hit performances led by sophomore Odicci Alexander's three hits coming from four at bats, including her 11^th home run on the season, which tops the CAA leaderboard. Alexander picked up her league-leading 13^th win in the circle after pitching her sixth shutout in her eighth complete game of the season. She hurled five innings of work, throwing three hits while walking one and fanning nine. Morgan Tolle went 2-for-3 with her seventh home run on the season and second on the day.

Kate Gordon registered her 8th home run of the season – a three run RBI in the first inning to put the Dukes up by three. The sophomore extended her hit streak to 16 games, adding two in the game. Freshman Lynsey Meeks came in to pinch hit and recorded her second double of the 2018 season. Kierstin Roadcap produced her first triple of the season in the first inning and scored after Madison Naujokas reached on a fielding error.

Senior Ashley Samuels batted in four runs in the day's first game and hit her first grand slam of the season to extend the JMU lead to seven runs. Gordon slated a career-high four hits, including a double to left center in the first inning to send Alexander to third.

In the first at bat on the day for the Dukes, Tolle ripped a home run to center field to secure an early Dukes lead, which was held until the conclusion of the game. Natalie Cutright singled through right side sending two batters home to put the Dukes up 3-0.

Freshman Payton Buresch picked up her 13^th win on the season, tying Alexander to lead the CAA after pitching five innings of six-hit work, allowing four runs (one earned) while striking out four. Alexander came in to close out the game, pitching two innings, striking out five of six batters faced.

QUOTING COACH LAPORTE
"I was really proud of the way our offense came out today. We were aggressive early and it paid off as we tallied 26 hits on the day. We had a lot of girls step up and make plays when we needed them most. We know Delaware is going to come out fighting for a win tomorrow so we can't lose focus and have to come out prepared to play even harder."

UP NEXT
The Dukes return to Veterans Memorial Park on Saturday, April 7 to close out the three-game series against the Blue Hens. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. Due to the change in weather, the game has been pushed up from Sunday.

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Friday, August 08

First Team All-Conference Pitcher Allie Braly Joins Dukes

Friday, August 01

Next Event

Delaware

W, 13-1

Apr 8 (Sun)

12 P.M.

Box Score Recap Game Notes Listen Live: MadiZONE HD Sportsnet Live stats History

Full Schedule

Team Stats

Pitching:

W: Buresch, Payton (13-4)

L: Marsh, Maddi (1-7)

S: Alexander, Odicci (3)

Delaware

Batting:

2B: de Jesus, Reyna 1 ; Dellatore, Alyshia 1

RBI: de Jesus, Reyna 1 ; Steinmetz, Anna 1 ; Kondravy, Mariah 1

SF: Steinmetz, Anna 1

Base Running:

RUNS: Gearhart, Leanna 1 ; Kolofer, Giovanna 1 ; de Jesus, Reyna 1 ; Dellatore, Alyshia 1

James Madison

Batting:

2B: Tolle, Morgan 1 ; Jubas, Sara 1 ; Gordon, Kate 1

HR: Tolle, Morgan 1 ; Samuels, Ashley 1

RBI: Tolle, Morgan 2 ; Jubas, Sara 1 ; Cutright, Natalie 2 ; File, Hannah 1 ; Mrozek, Jessica 1 ; Samuels, Ashley 4

SH: Sullivan, Michelle 2

Base Running:

RUNS: Tolle, Morgan 2 ; Alexander, Odicci 1 ; Gordon, Kate 2 ; Roadcap, Kierstin 2 ; Naujokas, Madison 1 ; File, Hannah 1 ; Sullivan, Michelle 1 ; Samuels, Ashley 1