Dukes Cruise Past Pride in Doubleheader

Saturday, April 6

Hempstead, N.Y.

1 PM

James Madison University

25-6, 6-1

Hofstra

16-16, 3-4

James Madison

Hofstra

4/6/2019 9:11:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – Powered by long balls, No. 20 James Madison softball cruised past Hofstra on Saturday afternoon in Colonial Athletic Association play, winning both games in the doubleheader 9-4 and 16-2.

JMU improves to 26-6 overall and 7-1 in league action while Hofstra falls to 16-17 and 3-5.

Sophomore Logan Newton led the Dukes at the plate, going 6-for-7 with one home run and five RBIs. Junior Kierstin Roadcap went 4-for-6 with a hour run and 3 RBIs. Four Dukes had home runs on the day: Newton, Kate Gordon, Roadcap and Michelle Sullivan.

GAME 1
Scoreless through two complete innings, the Dukes started the third frame drawing back-to-back walks. Gordon hit a RBI single to right field, bringing Sara Jubas across the plate. Junior Odicci Alexander grounded out to second, but sent Hannah File home to score. Newton stepped up to the plate and singled down the left field line, plating another run while giving the Dukes a 3-0 lead.

Junior Madison Naujokas carried momentum into the fourth, sending a leadoff single through the left side. File drew a walk and Gordon reached on a fielding error in right field which scored Naujokas. The Dukes score two more runs before Roadcap launched a three-run homer over the wall in left field for her fourth home run of the season (9-0).

Hofstra plated four runs on four hits in the bottom of the frame, closing in on JMU's lead, 9-4. The Dukes garnered four more hits in the game, including Newton's fourth hit of the game for a career high.

Redshirt senior Megan Good got the start in the circle, earning two strikeouts while giving up two earned runs in 3 2/3 innings. Sophomore Payton Buresch pitched 3 1/3 innings in which she picked up three strikeouts without giving up a single hit for her fifth win of the year.

GAME 2
The Dukes scored seven runs in the first inning, starting with a solo shot from Gordon for her 12th home run of the season to give JMU a 1-0 lead. Good and Alexander reached base on a walk and hit by pitch, respectively. Newton brought both runners home with her seventh homer of the season to make it 4-0. Jubas doubled and Roadcap singled, followed by three fielder's choices to lead to three more runs in the frame.

Newton hit a leadoff single up the middle in the second and Jubas smacked another double in the second frame, bringing Newton across the plate. Jubas would score to give the Dukes a 9-0 advantage.

JMU plated three runs in the top of the third on three singles and one double. Hofstra put a run on the board in the bottom half of the frame, but the Dukes' remained strong with a 12-1 lead.
Moving into the fourth, Gordon walked and freshman Hannah Shifflett reached base on a Hofstra error. Sophomore Michelle Sullivan blasted her first career home run to left field, a three-run long ball to expand JMU's lead to 15-1. Both teams would tack on one run before the Dukes' sealed the victory in five innings.

Buresch collected her sixth win of the season after pitching five complete frames in which she only gave up two runs while striking out four batters.

QUOTING COACH LAPORTE
"We played JMU softball today – looking strong defensively and at the plate. I think we looked our best in the second game and did a great job of using long balls to bring runners home. We're ready to get back and close out the series tomorrow."

FOR HISTORY'S SAKE

JMU's 16 runs were the most in a single game all season and are the most since playing the College of Charleston on April 2, 2017.
The Dukes' 15 runs batted in as a team are tied for the most in a game since facing Towson on April 8, 2017.

UP NEXT
The Dukes and Pride conclude the series tomorrow with a noon game at Bill Edwards Stadium.