Dukes Kick Off 2024 with Opening Day Sweep of the River City Leadoff

Friday, February 9

Jacksonville, Fla. / Jacksonville University

11 a.m.

James Madison University

1-0

Ball State

0-1

James Madison

Ball State

Dukes Kick Off 2024 with Opening Day Sweep of the River City Leadoff

2/9/2024 6:15:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – James Madison softball kicked off its 2024 season by winning both of its games on the first day of the River City Leadoff, taking down Ball State 6-1 and Jacksonville 5-1 on Friday at the Debbie & Fred Pruitt Softball Complex on the campus of Jacksonville University.

JMU moved to 2-0 and handed Ball State (0-1) and Jacksonville (0-1) its first losses of the season.

In the two wins, the Dukes held their opponents to a combined eight hits and two runs. Molly Grube worked six innings versus Ball State, scattering three hits and fanning six batters. Kirsten Fleet made her JMU debut in game two, throwing a complete game and finishing with five strikeouts.

At the plate, redshirt sophomore Isabelle Fishman finished 4-of-8 (.500) on the day, including a double. Junior Jasmine Hall hit a two-run home run and collected three RBIs versus Ball State, while sophomore K.K. Mathis finished with three singles in six at-bats. Collectively, the Dukes racked up 19 hits in the two games.

How It Happened
JMU 6, Ball State 1
First Inning
Fishman reached on a two-out single before J. Hall deposited a pitch over the left field fence to give the Dukes a 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the frame, Ball State answered with an RBI single from Samantha Jo-Mata to cut the JMU lead to 2-1.

Third Inning
Fishman once again kicked off the rally in the third, singling to right and advancing two bases on a BSU throwing error. J. Hall brought her home with a single to left to extend the lead to 3-1.

Fourth Inning
After JMU loaded the bases, Bella Henzler and Madison Edwards worked consecutive walks to push the advantage to 5-1.

Sixth Inning
Henzler slapped a single to right for her second hit of the day, and Fishman brought her home with her third hit, bringing the JMU lead to 6-1.

JMU 5, JU 1
Second Inning
Lexi Rogers, pinch-hitting for Mathis, hit a two-RBI single down the left line in the second inning to give JMU a 2-0 advantage.

Third Inning
JU's Allis Bratek hit a home run to cut the JMU lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the third.

Sixth Inning
Reed Butler smashed her second double of the game, scoring Thress from first and giving JMU a 3-1 lead.

Seventh Inning
A throwing error from JU allowed Henzler to score, and Thress tacked on the Dukes' fifth run of the day on a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Fishman.

Game Notes

Edwards, Grube, and Fleet all made their JMU debuts.
JMU moved to 1-0 all-time against Ball State and 4-0 against Jacksonville.
Head Coach Loren LaPorte moved to 5-2 in season openers in her seven seasons at JMU.
Fishman's three hits versus Ball State tied her career high (last vs. Norfolk State, 3/10/22)
Grube picked up the 15th win of her career and first at JMU.
Butler's two doubles in a single game is a career-high.

UP NEXT
The Dukes will play pair of games tomorrow on the second day of the River City Leadoff, taking on Ball State at 1:30 p.m. and Jacksonville at 6:30 p.m. on the campus of North Florida and the UNF Softball Complex.