Dukes Capture Doubleheader Sweep Over UNCW

Sunday, April 11

Wilmington, N.C.

12 P.M.

James Madison University

18-1, 7-1

UNCW

8-17, 4-4

James Madison

UNCW

4/11/2021 7:01:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

WILMINGTON, N.C. – James Madison softball finished the final day of the UNCW series with a doubleheader sweep over the Seahawks (8-18,4-5) , on Sunday afternoon, to move to a record of 19-1, 8-1 in Colonial Athletic Association play. The Dukes defeated the Seahawks 5-3 in the first game and closed out the doubleheader with a 6-3 victory.

Madison Naujokas led the way for the Dukes in the Sunday finale with a .625 batting average going 5-for-8 highlighted by one double, while recording one RBI and scoring three runs. She finished the day 3-for-3 on stolen bases. While at second base, Naujokas recorded four putouts and three assists. Lynsey Meeks went 4-for-8 at the plate with two RBI and one run. Sara Jubas went 3-for-3 on stolen bases while scoring one run and two RBI.

In the circle, Alexis Bermudez and Alissa Humphrey each picked up wins while only allowing three walks in two games and striking out eight batters.

Game 1

UNCW got on the board first with an RBI single to right field to take a 1-0 lead over the Dukes. Meeks helped turn a grounded out into a double play to strand halt the Seahawk's scoring opportunities, stranding a runner on base in the bottom of the first. JMU could not get anything going in the top of the second but Bermudez helped shut down the Seahawks' scoring opportunities as she picked up her first strikeout of the game while JMU recorded two grounded outs.

In the top of the third the Dukes went to work as Emily Phillips drew a leadoff walk. Phillips kept the momentum going as she stole second during Kate Gordon's at bat. Gordon helped Phillips touch home plate with a two-run homer down the left field line, to record her 58^th career home run as the Dukes took a 2-1 lead over the Seahawks.

It was a battle of the pitchers for an inning and a half before JMU increased their lead over the Seahawks. At the tip of the fifth, Phillips was up to bat and ready to start the momentum for JMU. She reached first on a fielding by the Seahawks and continued her way second. Gordon followed with a single down the right field line to get runners on the corners with two outs. Gordon didn't stop there as she stole second to get in scoring position for JMU. Jubas recorded a base hit down the right field line to bring Phillips and Gordon home pushing JMU's lead to 4-1.

UNCW answered back with two runs of their own off a two RBI single to center field cutting the Dukes' lead to 4-3 heading into the top of the sixth. Meeks hit a leadoff single to left field to get on base before Hannah Hennessy entered the game to pinch run. Hennessy advanced to second on a wild pitch before coming home off a single from Phillips, to tack on another run to the Dukes' lead.

JMU shut down the Seahawks scoring efforts forcing them to leave four runners base in the in the next two frames to win the game 5-3.

Bermudez went the distance in the circle to move to a record of 8-1 overall picking up her fifth consecutive win. She recorded three strikeouts, three assists while only walking one batter. JMU's defense forced UNCW to leave eight runners on base.

Game 2

UNCW repeated their efforts of the first game, getting on the board first with two RBI singles to take a 2-0 lead over JMU in the bottom of the first. Naujokas helped the Dukes answer with a leadoff single and kept her momentum going as she stole second. Meeks kept JMU's fire going with a single to third. Phillips moved the runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt, before Naujokas capitalized on a passed ball to score JMU's first run.

In the bottom of the third UNCW increased their lead to 4-1 with a sacrifice fly out to left to drive in a runner. In the next two innings, JMU recorded five unanswered runs pushing four in the top of the fifth. The duo of Naujokas and Meeks went pushed the first of the five runs in the top of the fourth. Naujokas hit a leadoff double to right before being brought home by a single off the bat of Meeks and an error by the Seahawks to cut UNCW's lead to 3-2.

Hallie Hall entered the game as a pinch hitter in the top of the fifth to draw a walk for JMU. Gordon followed with a single down to third to move Hall to second before Hall was throw out on the fielder's choice that allowed Jubas to reach first. Naujokas hit a rocket to center field for an RBI single that moved Jubas to second and pushed Gordon across home plate to tie the game up at 3-3.

Naujokas didn't stop there as she stole second for the second time in the game. Meeks recorded a base hit to left turning her wheels on to reach second on the throw, while Naujokas and Jubas each scored helping the Dukes take over the lead at 5-3. Phillips hits a RBI single to right that pushed the final run for the Dukes.

The teams remained scoreless for through the next two and a half innings allowing JMU to capture the 6-3 over the Seahawks. Humphrey pitched 7.0 innings with five strikeouts while only walking two batters to move to a 9-0 record in the circle.

Up Next

JMU will host George Washington on Wednesday, April 14 at Veterans Memorial Park for a midweek doubleheader. The first game is set to start at 3 p.m. and the second is schedule for 5 p.m.