James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
James Madison University
8-4
Lehigh
6-4
JMU Sweeps the Final Day of N.C. State Invitational
3/1/2020 2:48:00 PM | Softball
RALEIGH, N.C. – No. 24 James Madison sweeps the final day of the N.C. State Invitational with wins over Lehigh, 15-3 in five innings, and North Carolina A&T, 13-0 in five innings. The Dukes move to 9-4 on the season.
GAME 1
Juniors Michelle Sullivan and Hannah File each collected three RBIs to help power the James Madison softball team over the Lehigh Mountain Hawks 15-3 on Sunday. Alexis Bermudez (3-0) picked up her third win in the circle for the Dukes.
Sullivan went 2-for-2 at the plate with a home run and a walk, in addition to her three RBIs and File put together a 1-for-1 day with a home run and a walk, supplementing her three RBI performance for the Dukes. Senior Kate Gordon compiled a noteworthy day at the dish as well, going 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Dukes got on the board immediately, starting their scoring in the first inning. Junior Sara Jubas came across to score the lone run of the inning for JMU and get them on the board.
The Mountain Hawks failed to push any runs across before the Dukes offense got back to their scoring ways the next inning. JMU scored twice on Sullivan's two-run homer, which brought the score to 3-0 in favor of the Dukes.
JMU pushed nine runs across in the third inning to increase their lead to 12-0 over Lehigh. James Madison hit three home runs in the inning starting with Gordon's solo home run. Next was three-run home run off the bat of File that brought in Logan Newton and Jubas. Madison Naujokas followed with another home run to keep the momentum going for the Dukes. Emily Phillips drove in Jessica Ford, and the inning ended with three runs brought in by Newton.
JMU held the Mountain Hawks scoreless before their offense got in gear the next inning, bringing the JMU advantage to 15-0. Lehigh put three runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, but the Dukes still coasted to the 15-3 win in five innings.
GAME FACTS
» Last time JMU hit four home runs in a game was in 2019 against Elon.
» Last time the Dukes scored 15 or more runs in a game was against Delaware in 2019.
GAME 2
Sophomore Isabel Kelly was dealing against North Carolina A&T, throwing a three-hit shutout to lead the James Madison softball team past the Aggies 13-0 in five innings. Kelly (1-0) went the distance for JMU (9-4), giving up three hits, walking one and striking out three. Gordon led the way offensively for the Dukes, going 2-for-2 in the ballgame with a home run, a walk and four RBIs. Naujokas put together a noteworthy performance at the dish as well, going 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Phillips also contributed, going 1-for-2 for JMU with two RBIs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Dukes took the lead for good in the first, scoring eight runs in the inning. Gordon cleared the bases in the first inning to contribute to the Duke's lead, 8-0 over the Aggies.
The Dukes continued to pound at the plate in the second inning adding four more runs starting with a single off the bat of Naujokas that drove in Newton in. Lynsey Meeks followed with a single to left field that brought home File. Phillips wanted a piece of the action and sent a base hit up the middle, bringing in two runs.
Kelly only allowed three hits in five innings to help JMU keep its lead over the Aggies. JMU closed out their win with a run scored off a wild pitch to leave the score at 13-0.
GAME FACTS
» Kelly tossed a three-hit shutout for the Dukes.
» Gordon drove in four runs for JMU.
» Every JMU starter reached base safely in the win.
» JMU's highest scoring inning was the first, when it pushed eight runs across.
» JMU took an 8-0 lead in the bottom half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» The Dukes out-hit the Aggies at a 10-3 clip.
» JMU went 5-for-11 (.455) with runners in scoring position.
» The Dukes got two hits in four at-bats with the bases loaded.
» Kelly limited N.C. A&T to just 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.
» The Dukes drew six walks from N.C. A&T pitching.
QUOTING LAPORTE
"I am very proud of the way the team played today," said Head Coach LaPorte. "We were powerful at the plate and stayed focus throughout each game, even when we were leading. Now we learn from this weekend and prepare for the upcoming week, we go to Virginia on Tuesday and then host our Invitational at home. We are excited to finally be at home!"
UP NEXT
No. 24 James Madison will travel for a mid-week game against University of Virginia on Mar. 3 at 4 p.m. The Dukes will return home for the opening weekend at Veterans Memorial Park with the JMU Invitational Mar. 6-8.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Bermudez, Alexis (2-0)
L: Stephenson, Lainey (1-2)
Batting:
2B: Jubas, Sara 1 ; Butler, Reed 1
HR: Gordon, Kate 1 ; File, Hannah 1 ; Naujokas, Madison 1 ; Sullivan, Michelle 1
RBI: Gordon, Kate 2 ; Newton, Logan 3 ; File, Hannah 3 ; Naujokas, Madison 1 ; Sullivan, Michelle 3 ; Phillips, Emily 1 ; Hall, Hallie 1
SF: Hall, Hallie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gordon, Kate 1 ; Jubas, Sara 3 ; Newton, Logan 1 ; File, Hannah 1 ; Naujokas, Madison 1 ; Butler, Reed 1 ; Meeks, Lynsey 1 ; Ford, Jessica 2 ; Sullivan, Michelle 3 ; Phillips, Emily 1
Batting:
2B: Chesson, Jaelynn 1
HR: Chesson, Jaelynn 1 ; Dibsie, Allyson 1
RBI: Chesson, Jaelynn 2 ; Dibsie, Allyson 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Smith, Mary-Hannah 1 ; Chesson, Jaelynn 1 ; Dibsie, Allyson 1
