Alexander, Humphrey Shut Down Lancers

Wednesday, April 21

Farmville, Va.

3 p.m.

James Madison University

23-1

Longwood

21-22

James Madison

Longwood

4/21/2021 9:17:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

FARMVILLE, VA – James Madison softball's pitching staff of Alissa Humphrey and Odicci Alexander tossed a combined 30 strikeouts to help the Dukes shutout Longwood in their doubleheader sweep, on Wednesday afternoon. JMU won the first game 1-0 over Longwood and powered pasted the Lancers in the second game 6-0.

JMU stretches is winning streak to 14 as the Dukes move to a record of 24-1 overall, 11-1 in Colonial Athletic Association play, while Longwood is now 21-23 overall, 10-5 in the Big South.

It was a battle of the pitchers, Humphrey (10-0) and Alexander (5-0) each recorded 15 strikeouts posting new career-highs. The two combined to record 30 of the 42 outs in the doubleheader holding Longwood to a .089 batting average.

Kate Gordon lead the Dukes at the plate going 4-for-8 with a solo homer while recording three RBI and one run. Sara Jubas racked up two solo homers, a single, two runs and two RBI. Emily Phillips scored twice for the Dukes recording a double at the plate.

Game 1

From the start of the game it was a battle between Humphrey and Longwood's ace, Sydney Backstorm, as each kept the other team scoreless for four innings. Humphrey struck out the first three batters and went on to record at least two strikeouts for the next five innings. She struck out 15 of the 23 batters she faced.

Gordon recorded the first hit for the Dukes with a single in the top of the third but the Dukes stayed scoreless. In the top of the fifth, Alexander recorded a leadoff single to second to get on base for the Dukes. Hannah Hennessy came in to pinch run for Alexander, immediately showing off her speed as she stole second. Phillips drew a walk to get another runner on base.

During Gordon's at bat, Hennessy stole third to move into scoring position. Gordon launched a single up the middile, to drive in the winning run.

The teams remained scoreless as Humphrey helped the Dukes shut the Lancers' down on offense pushing JMU to a 1-0 win. Humphrey picked up her fifth shutout in the circle and moved to a record of 10-0 on the season. She set a new career-high of 15 strikeouts while recording her sixth game with double-digit strikeouts.

Game 2

Gordon opened the second game of the doubleheader with a solo homer over the center field fence, recording her 59^th career home run. JMU shut the Lancers down in the bottom of the first to get back to the batter's box.

Phillips helped start the fire with a leadoff double to center in the top of the second. Michelle Sullivan brought in Phillips on second with a sacrifice fly out to left field pushing JMU to a 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the second, Alexander started to get in her groove as she tossed the first of her seven consecutive strikeouts to end the inning. With Alexander handling Longwood's offense, JMU was able to plate another run in the top of the fifth, off of a solo homer from Jubas, increasing the Dukes' lead to 3-0.

The Dukes tacked on two more run in the top of the sixth. Lynsey Meeks drew a leadoff walk and kept the momentum by stealing second. Phillips recorded a single up the middle giving Meeks time to reach home plate. Gordon hit a RBI single to left helping the Dukes score the final run of the frame putting their lead at 5-0.

In the top of the seventh, Jubas hit her second leadoff homer of the game scoring the final run Dukes to put them at a 6-0 lead over Longwood.

Alexander moved to a record of 5-0 in the circle tabbing her first shutout of the season as she struck out 15 of the 24 batters she faced. She set a new career-high of 15 strikeouts, with her previous best being 12 strikeouts.

Up Next

JMU welcomes UNCW for the final home conference series of the regular season on April 24-25. The Dukes will be honoring their seniors on Sunday, April 25.