Dukes Split Opening Day at Charlotte Invitational

Saturday, February 19

Charlotte, N.C.

11:00 a.m.

James Madison University

1-0

UConn

2-5

Connecticut

James Madison

2/19/2022 5:30:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The No. 22 James Madison softball team split the opening day of the 2022 season with a 9-5 win over UConn (3-5) and a 6-1 loss against Charlotte (7-1) at the Charlotte Invitational.

Emily Phillips, Lauren Bernett and Morgan Mesaros all hit homeruns for the Dukes. On the field, Bernett led the team with four assists and 14 putouts at the end of the day.

Game 1
After giving up a run to the Huskies in the first inning, Reed Butler scored the first run for the Dukes after a throwing error by UConn. Bernett followed with a single to left field, driving in Hallie Hall. In a powerful second inning, Butler doubled to send home Hannah Hennessy. H. Hall recorded her second hit of the game with a double before a closing homerun from Emily Phillips brought the score to 6-1 at the end of the second inning.

Bernett opened the bottom of the third with a homer to keep the momentum running for the Dukes. In the bottom of the sixth Hannah Shifflett and Hennessy each recorded an RBI, putting the Dukes up 9-5 at the end of the game.

Alexis Bermudez recorded her first win of the season after striking out six batters.

Game 2
The 49ers opened up scoring in the bottom of the first with a homerun form Bailey Vannoy. The Dukes were unable to answer until the top of the fifth when Mesaros homered to center field to record her first collegiate homerun.

Charlotte responded in the bottom of the fifth with a two-run homerun to put the 49ers up 3-1. Charlotte went on to add three runs in the bottom of the sixth before forcing the Dukes to end the top of the seventh with two left on base.

Despite the loss, Alissa Humphrey pitched seven strikeouts over 5.2 innings pitched.

UP NEXT
The Dukes will wrap up the Charlotte Invitational tomorrow, Feb. 20, taking on UConn for a second time at 10 A.M. and Campbell at 1 P.M.