Dukes Go Yard in Home-Opening Wins

Friday, March 15

Harrisonburg, Va.

12:30 PM

James Madison University

12-5

Saint Joseph's

7-9

Saint Joseph's

James Madison

3/15/2019 8:32:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

HARRISONBURG, Va. – No. 22 James Madison softball opened its home slate on Friday afternoon as the Dukes run-ruled both opponents, defeating Saint Joseph's 14-2 before taking down Rutgers 10-1 on the first day of the JMU Dukes Invitational at Veterans Memorial Park.

The Dukes won their home opener for the fifth straight season. improving to 13-5. The Hawks fall to 7-8 and the Scarlet Knights move to 13-10. `

Led by sophomore Hannah File who had two long balls, the Dukes tallied five homers to up their season total to 29.

GAME 1 VS. SAINT JOSEPH'S
File garnered the first hit for the Dukes, doubling down the left field line in the bottom of the first. She was brought across the plate on a single from junior Odicci Alexander. Redshirt senior Megan Good gave JMU a 3-0 lead with a two-run blast over the left field wall.

The Dukes added two runs on the board in the second frame before Saint Joseph's posted two runs on the board in the top of the third, cutting JMU's advantage to 5-2.

With two outs in the bottom of the third, JMU hit three consecutive singles which brought junior Cambry Arnold in to score. File hit a three-run bomb to center field to expand JMU's lead, 9-2.

JMU tacked on five more runs on four singles and three-run shot by sophomore Sara Jubas in the fourth, securing the victory at 14-2 in five innings. The Dukes' 14 runs and hits marks season highs.

Alexander remains perfect in the circle as the Boydton native notched her seventh win of the season after giving up only one hit in five complete innings in which she racked up eight strikeouts.

GAME 2 VS. RUTGERS
The Dukes and Scarlet Knights were scoreless until the bottom of the third when File launched her second homer of the day (third on the season) to give JMU a 1-0 lead. Good doubled in the fourth and eventually scored to make it 2-0.

Rutgers made it 2-1 in the top of the fifth with a solo shot to center. The Dukes responded with an explosive inning, scoring eight runs on seven hits. Working with two outs, JMU hit three straight singles to expand its lead to 7-1. Junior Madison Naujokas crushed her first home run of the season in walk-off fashion, hitting a three-run homer to end the game in five innings (10-1).

In the circle, Good pitched five complete innings in which she gave up two hits while earning four strikeouts to improve to 6-4 on the season. With the complete game, Good holds the all-time record with 71 complete games.

QUOTING COACH LAPORTE
"It felt great playing at home today and we couldn't have asked for a better turnout from our fans! I thought we hit really well and that's in part to the girls making adjustments in their second or third at-bats each game. In the circle, Megan and CC had strong performances to limit our opponents on the board."

UP NEXT
The Dukes are back for day two of the JMU Dukes Invitational tomorrow as they take on Binghamton at 2 p.m.

Softball Inks Six Future Dukes on Signing Day

Wednesday, November 12

Softball Hires Sam Gress as Pitching Coach

Thursday, November 06

Grace Chelemen Named Softball Assistant Coach

Thursday, August 28

Softball Releases 2025 Fall Slate

Friday, August 22

Next Event

Binghamton

W, 15-0

Mar 16 (Sat)

2 PM

Box Score Recap GAME NOTES Live stats History

Full Schedule

Team Stats

Pitching:

W: Alexander, Odicci (7-0)

L: VENTURA, A. (5-8)

Saint Joseph's

Batting:

RBI: OSTASZEWSKI 2

Base Running:

RUNS: KULP, A. 1 ; HESSION, A. 1

James Madison

Batting:

2B: Jubas, Sara 1 ; File, Hannah 1

HR: Jubas, Sara 1 ; File, Hannah 1 ; Good, Megan 1

RBI: Jubas, Sara 4 ; File, Hannah 3 ; Alexander, Odicci 1 ; Good, Megan 2 ; Roadcap, Kierstin 1 ; Cutright, Natalie 1 ; Naujokas, Madison 1

SF: Cutright, Natalie 1

Base Running:

RUNS: Jubas, Sara 2 ; File, Hannah 2 ; Alexander, Odicci 1 ; Sullivan, Michelle 1 ; Good, Megan 1 ; Newton, Logan 1 ; Roadcap, Kierstin 1 ; LaScola, Sydney 1 ; Arnold, Cambry 1 ; Naujokas, Madison 2 ; Brown, Kelsey 1