Dukes Hold Off ECU in Series Finale

Sunday, March 21

Harrisonburg, Va.

1 p.m.

James Madison University

9-0

ECU

9-13

ECU

James Madison

3/21/2021 5:54:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Harrisonburg, Va. – James Madison softball (9-0) defeated ECU (9-13) 7-1, in the series finale, on Sunday afternoon, to capture the weekend series sweep.

Alexis Bermudez picked up her second win of the season in the circle, striking out two batters. Alissa Humphrey and Bermudez combined for a 1.22 ERA only allowing four hits, three being in the first inning.

Madison Naujokas went one-for-two at the plate while also drawing two walks and scoring twice. Logan Newton recorded two doubles, a career-high, along with two runs and one RBI. Michelle Sullivan went two-for-two at the plate hitting the second triple of her career to drive in two runners for JMU.

How it Happened

ECU got on the board first to 1-0 over JMU, recording three hits in the first frame. JMU followed with three quick outs after the Pirates scored to get to the batter's box.

Naujokas opened the bottom frame with a single to right field as the leadoff hitter for the Dukes. Sara Jubas followed with another base hit to keep the fire going. Newton hit a double up the middle to drive Naujokas home and keep runners in scoring position for JMU. The Dukes had tied it up, 1-1.

Hallie Hall recorded her first hit of the game with a single through the right side to bring in Jubas and Newton, giving JMU the 3-1 lead over ECU. Sullivan stepped up to launch a triple down the right field line to drive in two more JMU runners to increase the Dukes' lead to 5-1.

The teams stayed scoreless through the next two innings, Humphrey striking out three batters in the second innings. In the bottom of the fourth Lynsey Meeks sacrifice a hit to bring in Naujokas on third giving JMU the 6-1 lead over the Pirates.

In the top of the sixth Bermudez made a huge defense play, grounding a bunt and flipping it to Hannah Shifflett at first to get the runner out. She then went on the strike out a Pirate to end the frame. In the bottom of the sixth Newton hit her second double of the game to right field. Meeks got the job done with a base hit to left field that drove in Newton making the final score 7-1.

Next Up

James Madison softball will travel to Elon, N.C., on March 27-28, to take on the Phoenix in the Dukes' first conference series of the season.