Dukes Hold Off Radford to Capture Midweek Sweep

Tuesday, April 6

Harrisonburg, Va.

3 p.m.

James Madison University

15-1

Radford

12-19

RADFORD

James Madison

4/6/2021 9:31:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, VA – James Madison softball (16-1, 4-1 Colonial Athletic Association) swept Radford (12-20) in a doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Park. Kate Gordon hit a walk off grand slam to push JMU to the 6-2 victory in the first game, followed by Alissa Humphrey (7-0) throwing her second no-hitter of the season to help the Dukes win 3-0 over Radford.

Madison Naujokas led the Dukes with two doubles, one RBI, a .667 slugging percentage, and one run while adding five putouts and three assists on the defensive end. Sara Jubas finished with a home run, two RBI, two runs and a 1.000 slugging percentage. Gordon finished with a homer, two runs and four RBI.

Game 1

Radford took the early 1-0 lead, hitting a homer to right center in the top of the first. The teams went scoreless until the bottom of the third when JMU got on the board.

Michelle Sullivan hit a leadoff single to start the bottom frame, followed by Hannah Shifflett reaching first on a Radford throwing error that allowed the Dukes to move into scoring position. Jubas hit a sacrifice fly out to center field to drive in Sullivan tying the game at 1-1.

Radford answered with an RBI single in the top of the fourth to take back the lead at 2-1. It was a battle of the pitchers as the teams remained scoreless for two innings. In the bottom of the sixth, Naujokas sent a double through the left side allowing Gordon to score the tying run for the Dukes.

In the top of the seventh, Alexis Bermudez (7-1) threw a strikeout to get the first out of the frame. Next batter up, she caught the lineout, threw to Jubas guarding the bag at second, to get the double play and the final outs.

In the bottom of the seventh, Emily Phillips recorded a base hit to get the momentum started for the Dukes. Sullivan drew a walk which was followed by Kayla Boseman who was hit by a pitch to to load the bases and put the winning run 60 feet from scoring. Gordon stepped in the batter's box and hit the first pitch over the left field fence for a walk off grand slam to give JMU to 6-2 victory over Radford.

Bermudez picked up her seventh win going the distance in the first game, only walking three batters.

Game 2

JMU got on the board first in the bottom of the first, as Jubas hit a solo homer to left field to give the Dukes a 1-0 lead.

The teams remained scoreless until the Dukes pushed another run across in the bottom of the third. Jubas reached first on a fielder's choice and then stole second during Logan Newton's at bat. Newton drove Jubas in with a base hit down the right field line to increase JMU's lead to 2-0. It turned into a battle of the pitchers as the team's remained scoreless through the fourth and fifth inning.

In the bottom of the sixth, Naujokas hit a double down the right field line to get the momentum going for the Dukes. Lynsey Meeks followed with a double of her own down the left field line as Naujokas rounded the bases to score the final run for the Dukes.

In the top of the seventh, Humphrey contributed to two of the three final outs. She had the grounded out for the first one, then grounded a hit to throw to Naujokas guarding first for the final out to secure a 3-0 win.

Humphrey pitched seven innings and lowered her season ERA to 0.88, while tossing 10 strikeouts and walking one. Humphrey recorded her seventh win of the season, as well as her third shutout and second no-hitter.

Up Next

James Madison softball will travel to Wilmington, N.C., on April 10-11, for a weekend conference series against UNCW.