Dukes Take Midweek Doubleheader vs. UVA

Tuesday, April 23

Harrisonburg, Va.

4 PM

James Madison University

36-8

Virginia

17-29

Virginia

James Madison

4/23/2019 10:40:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

HARRISONBURG, Va. – No. 20 James Madison softball expanded its win streak to 10 after sweeping Virginia in a midweek doubleheader, topping UVA 14-3 and 3-1 on Tuesday evening at Veterans Memorial Park.

The Dukes improve to 38-7 in their 2019 campaign while the Cavaliers fall to 17-30.

Redshirt senior Megan Good led JMU at the plate going 3-for-4 with two home runs and a triple. Her four RBI powered her to become the JMU career RBI leader with 182. Juniors Kate Gordon and Odicci Alexander both had three hits on the day as each hit a long ball.

GAME 1
The Dukes scored seven runs in the first frame on only two hits. JMU drew four consecutive walks, plating its first run to take a 1-0 lead. Sophomore Sara Jubas drove in a run on a fielder's choice and Kierstin Roadcap grounded out while bringing another teammate across the plate. Junior Madison Naujokas hit a two-run single and advanced to second before she was brought home on a double by Hannah File.

Good began the second inning with a solo shot to center field – her 14th of the season. Alexander and Logan Newton followed with back-to-back singles before Roadcap scored a run on a fielder's choice for a 9-0 lead.

Both teams added three runs in the third, beginning with a three-run homer in the top half of the inning. In the bottom half, Gordon sent a sacrifice fly to left to bring Naujokas home. For just the fourth time in her career, Good hit a RBI triple to right field and Newton sent her home on a RBI single, expanding JMU's lead to 12-3.

Gordon plated the Dukes' last runs of the games with a two-run homer to center field, hitting her 14th of the season to give JMU a final score of 14-3.

In the five-inning run-rule victory, Alexander earned five strikeouts in four innings to pick up her 17th win in the circle this season. Sophomore Payton Buresch came in for relief in the fifth, facing five batters while giving up one hit.

GAME 2
The second game of the doubleheader was scoreless through two innings until Virginia plated the first run of the game in the top of the third on a RBI double down the right field line.

JMU had three hits leading up to the fifth, but the Dukes would get their final hits of the game in the bottom of the inning. Gordon reached base on a single through the left side and was brought home by Good's 15th home run of the season to take the lead. In the next at bat, Alexander launched her 10th home run of the year (3-1).

With bases loaded and two outs, Good earned her sixth strikeout to end the game while picking up her 15th win in 2019. Good pitched seven complete innings in which she only gave up one earned run.

QUOTING COACH LAPORTE
"I'm happy with today's results, because our team got two wins against another ACC opponent. I thought we looked strong at the plate in the first game, but we weren't as disciplined in game two. We had a few hiccups on defense but overall our girls looked confident in their fielding and in the circle. This weekend we will face Drexel who is a good and scrappy team that is right behind us in league play. We have to prepare and come ready to battle on Saturday."

FOR HISTORY'S SAKE

With the two-run home run in game two, Good now holds the JMU career RBI record with 182. Good passed Taylor Newton ('14-'17) who had 181 in her career.
Good is now three long balls shy of capturing the JMU career home run record.

UP NEXT
The Dukes host Drexel in its final Colonial Athletic Association home series next weekend, starting with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 27. First pitch of game one is set for noon.