Dukes Capture Doubleheader Sweep Over Elon

Sunday, April 18

Harrisonburg, Va.

Noon

James Madison University

21-1, 0

Elon

13-16, 0

Elon

James Madison

4/18/2021 7:46:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, VA – James Madison softball (22-1, 11-1) finishes the Elon (13-16, 6-6) series 3-0 after downing the Phoenix 8-2, with a 1-2-3 double play to end the first game, followed by another 8-2 victory in the second game of the doubleheader on Sunday afternoon, at Veterans Memorial Park.

Odicci Alexander led the Dukes at the plate going 3-for-5 at the plate with one double, two walks, and two runs. Michelle Sullivan and Lynsey Meeks finished .500, 3-for-6 with one homer and four RBI and 2-for-4 with one homer and two runs, respectively.
Alexis Bermudez and Alexander each picked up a win in the circle. Bermudez (9-1) finished with two strikeouts and one double play. Alexander (4-0) tossed nine strikeouts while only walking one batter.

Game 1

JMU got on the board first in the bottom of the first with a solo homer to left field off the bat of Sara Jubas. The Dukes shut down the Phoenix's scoring opportunities in the top of the second as Jubas made a diving catch for the third out, forcing Elon to leave three runners on base.

In the bottom frame, Sullivan hit a RBI single to left that drove in Alexander and move Emily Phillips to third, who each recorded their own base hits to get on base. Kate Gordon hit a sacrifice hit out to center that gave Phillips enough time to tag up and race home to put the Dukes at a 3-0 lead over Elon.

Elon put up their first run of the game off a RBI single to center to cut the Dukes' lead to 3-1. The teams remained scoreless through the next four frames before JMU did some damage in the bottom of the fifth.

With two outs on the board, Jubas hit a single to third to get things started for the Dukes. Newton followed with a home run over the right center fence to increase JMU's lead to 5-1. Madison Naujokas kept the momentum going with a single down the left field line. Meeks followed with a single of her own allowing Naujokas to round second. Naujokas kept turning, heading to third, she capitalized on an Elon throwing error and advanced home to put JMU at a 6-1 lead.

Phillips add to the Dukes' fire with a RBI single through the right side that brought in Meeks. Sullivan recorded her second RBI single of the game, helping Alexander score the final run of the frame, giving JMU a 8-1 lead.

Elon tacked on another run with a sacrifice fly out to center field making the score 8-2. JMU remained scoreless in the bottom of the sixth and headed back out to the field. In the top of the seventh, with two runners on base and one out, Bermudez grounded a ball, threw it to Lauren Bernett behind the plate to get the forced out and Bernett threw to Phillips at first to get the batter out for the double play. The 1-2-3 double play ended the game giving JMU the 8-2 victory over Elon.

Bermudez (9-1) picked up her ninth win in the circle as the Dukes moved to a record of 21-1 overall.

Game 2
In the bottom of the first Gordon hit a leadoff double to left to get things going for the Dukes. She made her way to third and stole home during Naujokas's at bat to put JMU at a 1-0 lead over Elon.

Elon answered back with a solo homer in top second tying the game up at 1-1. Sullivan did not let the Elon's homer go unanswered as she launched her own two-run homer down the left field line increasing JMU's lead to 3-1.

The teams remained scoreless through the next two innings. JMU shut the Phoenix down in the top of fifth and went to work in the bottom frame. Meeks and Alexander each drew walks to get on base. Emily Phillips brought the two Dukes home with a home run to right center to put JMU at a 6-1 lead. Gordon rocketed a double down the left field line to drive in on the final run of the frame making the score 7-2.

Elon put another run on the board, taking advantaging of JMU errors. Alexander struck out the final batter of the frame to strand two Elon runners on base. Meeks responded with a solo homer to center, scoring the final run for JMU.

In the top of the seventh Alexander recorded two strikeouts to help shut down the Phoenix help the Dukes capture the 8-2 win over Elon. She recorded her fourth win in the circle while JMU moved to a record of 22-1, 11-1.

Up Next

James Madison will travel to Farmville, Va for a midweek doubleheader against Longwood on Wednesday, April 21. First game will start at 3 p.m. with the second one scheduled for 5 p.m.