Dukes Take Game One of LD&B Invitational, Down Saint Joseph’s 6-2

Thursday, March 9

Harrisonburg, Va.

5 p.m.

James Madison University

11-5

Saint Joseph's

4-11

Saint Joseph's

James Madison

Dukes Take Game One of LD&B Invitational, Down Saint Joseph’s 6-2

3/9/2023 8:38:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison softball opened its home slate Thursday evening with a 6-2 victory against Saint Joseph's in the first game of the LD&B Invitational at Veterans Memorial Park.

The Dukes improved to 11-5 on the year, while the Hawks fell to 4-11.

Junior Alissa Humphrey was solid in the circle, going the distance and striking out 11 batters while conceding just two runs on four hits. She improved to 6-2 this season.

Graduate student Avery Pinder and sophomore Jasmine Hall each went 2-for-3 to lead the offense, while graduate student Hannah Shifflett had a double and scored twice while driving in three runs.

Also contributing one hit each were graduate student Hallie Hall, freshman KK Mathis and junior Hannah Hennessy.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Saint Joe's struck first in the opening frame with an RBI single by Madison Fife.
The Dukes answered in the bottom half with a pair of runs, as Jasmine Hall singled down the right field line to score Shifflett. Hallie Hall put JMU up for good on the next at-bat, driving home Jasmine with an RBI double to right center.
JMU extended the lead to 5-1 thanks to three more runs in the second inning.
Shifflett doubled to right to score Pinder and freshman Kate Carrier, and she later crossed the plate thanks to a combination of a Jasmine Hall single and a SJU throwing error.
Teams traded a run each in the fourth, as Jessica Gaughan led off with a solo home run to left for the visitors while Hennessy scored on a fielder's choice in the bottom half to make it a 6-2 game.
In the top of the seventh, Saint Joseph's loaded the bases with a pair of walks and a Fife single, but Humphrey shut the door with back-to-back strikeouts to close the game.

UP NEXT
The LD&B Invitational continues Friday with three scheduled games at Veterans Memorial Park, weather pending. JMU is set to host Coppin State at 1:30 p.m., and that game will be streamed live on ESPN+.