JMU Sinks Drexel in Back-to-Back Outings to Clinch CAA Regular-Season Title

Friday, May 4

Philadelphia, PA

2 P.M.

James Madison University

38-10, 17-2

Drexel

21-27-2, 3-13

James Madison

Drexel

JMU Sinks Drexel in Back-to-Back Outings to Clinch CAA Regular-Season Title

5/4/2018 9:47:00 PM | Softball

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

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The James Madison softball team used dominant pitching and power hitting to secure the No. 1 seed for the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament and earned the title of regular season champions, after downing Drexel 3-1 and 11-0 on Friday afternoon.

The Dukes improve to 39-10 overall and 18-2 in the CAA while Drexel fell to 21-28-2 overall and 3-14 in league play.

Freshman Sara Jubas had an impressive day going 5-for-8 over two games, hitting a solo home run in each game to up her season total to seven.

The Dukes tied the program record of 70 homers for the season with five clearing the fence today. Joining the long ball party in game two was senior Morgan Tolle, senior Jessica Mrozek and senior Alyssa Buddle. Tolle started the second game in walk-off fashion, she grabbed her 16th home run of the season and sixth that left the park in the lead-off spot. Mrozek hit her third dinger of the season, picking up three RBI. Pinch hitter, Buddle collected her second long ball of the season as she cleared the left field wall in the seventh inning.

Sophomore Natalie Cutright was credited with two RBI after a single to left field sent Jubas and Tolle home who reached on a walk and error, respectively.

Payton Buresch went the distance in the circle, pitching her ninth complete game of the season, upping her record to 17-4. She only allowed two hits and walked one over 26 batters faced while fanning five.

In game one, Jubas started the Dukes' scoring with her solo shot to left field in the third inning. The Dukes picked up their other two runs off a double to center field from senior Ashley Samuels in the top of the six that allowed Madison Naujokas and Mrozek to cross the plate.

Drexel scored its lone run in the bottom of sixth after a throwing error from right field sent a runner home.

Odicci Alexander moved to 22-5 in the circle after hurling her 13th complete game of the season, only allowing three hits and one unearned run while fanning eight over 26 batters faced.

QUOTING COACH LAPORTE
"Today was an exciting day, there was a lot on the line with the tournament coming up next week, but we got our job done by picking up two wins. Happy for this team to come out of a hard conference schedule as the regular-season champions. We faced a lot of adversity so far this year and we have grown to be a better ball team through it all. Proud of our girls today, Sara came up big twice and our seniors also had a good day. Happy to see Odicci and Payton get their job done in the circle today as well. The fight isn't over though as we have one more tomorrow and the conference championship ahead, each day is a new challenge."

UP NEXT
The Dukes close out the regular season Saturday at noon with a single game against Drexel.