Dukes Split Final Day at Carolina Classic

Sunday, March 5

Chapel Hill, N.C.

11 a.m.

James Madison University

9-5

Purdue

11-6

James Madison

PURDUE

3/5/2023 5:44:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Chapel Hill, N.C. – James Madison softball closed out its final two games at the Carolina Classic Sunday afternoon at Anderson Softball Stadium. The Dukes fell short to Purdue 5-3 and edged a win over North Carolina 6-5.

James Madison is now 10-5 while Purdue advances to 11-6 and UNC drops to 8-13.

Purdue 5, JMU 3
Sunday morning's competition was a long-fought battle between both teams, ending just short of a JMU victory.

Junior Alissa Humphrey had a historical day in the circle for the Dukes when she marked her 350^th career strikeout during the second inning of play. Humphrey is now the sixth player in JMU softball history to do so. Humphrey pitched all seven innings, noting nine strikeouts, and only allowed one walk.

James Madison got off to a quick start when graduate student Hannah Shifflett walked in the first inning and worked her way around the bases to score the first run. The Dukes scored twice in the second after a two-base error allowed junior Reed Butler to touch home plate and then graduate Avery Pinder doubled in sophomore Lexi Rogers.

James Madison led the game 3-2 going into the fifth inning until Purdue used a pair of doubles and an error to plate three runs and take a 5-3 lead.

Butler and graduate Hallie Hall combined for two hits apiece, while sophomore Jasmine Hall and freshman Kate Carrier also tallied a hit.

JMU 6, UNC 5
The Dukes pulled off their second victory of the weekend against North Carolina in a neck-and-neck game.

Freshman Kylah Berry made her first collegiate start in the circle and earned her first win. Berry pitched six innings, tallied eighth strikeouts and only gave up two walks. Junior Alissa Humphrey came into the circle to secure the final three outs. Humphrey solidified the win by sitting down the three batters she faced and was credited with the save.

North Carolina scored a run in the first inning to take the early 1-0 lead.

James Madison answered quickly in the top of the second inning with a run and added a run in the following two innings for a 3-1 lead through four inning. A two-run homer off the bat of freshman KK Mathis in the fifth extended the lead to 5-1.

In the sixth inning, North Carolina mounted a comeback, scoring four runs to tie the game up at five.

Sophomore Abbie Campbell provided the heroics for JMU, putting the vistors on top with a home run in the top of the seventh inning to help seal the win.

Graduate Hallie Hall, junior Reed Butler, Campbell and Mathis all notched a home run to lead the Dukes to a win.

Mathis led JMU at the plate with three hits while Hall, Butler, graduate Hannah Shifflett, redshirt junior Hannah Hennessy and freshman Bella Henzler all recorded a hit apiece.

The Dukes return to Harrisonburg to host the LD&B Insurance Invitational on March 10-12 and are set to face Saint Joseph's on Friday at noon.