Dukes Drop Pair of One Run Games to Open Gamecock Invitational

Friday, February 23

Columbia, S.C.

1:30 p.m.

James Madison University

8-2

Charlotte

6-5

Charlotte

James Madison

Dukes Drop Pair of One Run Games to Open Gamecock Invitational

2/23/2024 11:54:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

COLUMBIA, S.C. – James Madison softball dropped a pair of one-run games to open the Gamecock Invitational on Friday.

JMU (8-3) opened the day with a 2-1 loss to Charlotte (6-5) before falling to No. 17 South Carolina 3-2 in the nightcap.

Payton List (3-1) made the start versus Charlotte, throwing 7.0 innings, striking out eight, and allowing only two runs. Alissa Humphrey completed 6.2 innings against South Carolina, striking out six batters.

Reed Butler, Hallie Hall, and Madison Edwards were the only Dukes to muster hits versus Charlotte, as Georgeanna Barefoot and Sam Gross combined for eight strikeouts in eight innings. Against South Carolina, Abbie Campbell notched a two-RBI double, but JMU managed only four hits.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Charlotte 2, James Madison 1

Charlotte got on the board in the third inning on an RBI groundout from Abigail Winters.
The 49ers' first two runners in the fourth inning reached, but a double play ended the threat and kept the score 1-0 through 3 ½ innings.
In the bottom of the fourth, Jasmine Hall worked an 11-pitch walk and Butler hit a sharp single to left, but the Dukes did not bring across a run.
H. Hall led off the fifth inning with a single and Campbell reached on an error, which put two runners on for JMU. Kate Carrier followed with a sacrifice fly to left, tying the game at 1-1.
List worked around a one-out triple, stranding the 49ers runner at third with a groundout and strikeout.
In the eighth inning, Charlotte worked a pair of walks, and after a wild pitch, Ella Chancey's go-ahead RBI single gave the 49ers a 2-1 lead.
Down a run in the bottom of the eighth, JMU was retired in order, giving the 49ers the 2-1 win.

No. 17 South Carolina 3, James Madison 2

Henzler led off the game with a single and reached second, but a sharp lineout from Butler ended the Dukes' threat in the first inning.
Two walks and a single loaded the bases for the Gamecocks in the bottom of the second, but Humphrey induced an infield popup and picked up two strikeouts looking to escape the jam.
Humphrey worked around traffic again in the third, striking out two and forcing a popup with a runner on third base to keep the score deadlocked at 0-0 through three.
After a double, hit by pitch, and a walk, Campbell laced a two-RBI double to left, giving the Dukes a 2-0 lead in the fourth.
The Gamecocks managed their first run on an RBI groundout, cutting JMU's lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth.
USC kicked off the seventh with a double down the right field line, which was followed by a single. The next at-bat, South Carolina tied the game 2-2 on a bloop single to center field.
The Gamecocks walked off the Dukes on a sacrifice fly to left.

GAME NOTES