Dukes Fall to Texas State in Sun Belt Opener

Friday, March 15

Harrisonburg, Va.

1 p.m.

James Madison University

16-8, 0-1

Texas State

21-6, 1-0

Texas State

James Madison

3/15/2024 5:13:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Texas State used a six-run fourth inning to push past James Madison softball, 8-4, in each team's Sun Belt opener on Friday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Park.

Texas State (21-6, 1-0 Sun Belt) scored eight runs on 11 hits, while JMU (16-8, 0-1 SBC) finished with four runs on nine hits.

Abbie Campbell and Bella Henzler led the Dukes at the plate, as both recorded two hits. Campbell tallied a double and knocked in a run, while Henzler finished 2-for-3 with a walk and run scored. Hallie Hall finished 1-for-4 (.250) with an RBI, while KK Mathis went 1-for-3 with a walk.

Redshirt freshman Payton List started in the circle for JMU, yielding seven runs (all earned) on seven hits. Kirsten Fleet relived List, scattering four hits over 3.1 innings and allowing one earned run.

How It Happened

A wild pitch gave Texas State its first run of the contest and a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
Two walks and a single loaded the bases for JMU with one out in the bottom of the first, and Hall tied the game at 1-1 on an infield single to third base. However, a strikeout and flyout ended the inning.
The Bobcats scored six runs in the top of the fourth, sending 11 to the plate and grabbing a 7-1 lead.
Fleet got the Dukes out of the inning with a groundout.
Lexi Rogers recorded a pinch-hit single to kick off the bottom of the fourth, and List followed with a single of her own to put two runners on with no outs.
After Carrier re-entered for Rogers, Campbell brought her home with a double, while List scored on a fielding error to cut the Bobcats' lead to 7-3.
Another Texas State error gave the Dukes another run as the home team trimmed the deficit to 7-4.
The Bobcats tacked on an insurance run in the top of the seventh on an RBI single.
JMU was retired in order in the bottom of the seventh.

Game Notes

JMU dropped its first home game of the season and is now 8-1 at Veterans Memorial Park.
Texas State finished 6-of-12 (.500) with runners in scoring position and 4-of-5 (.800) with the bases loaded.
Head Coach Loren LaPorte moved to 4-2 in conference openers.
Reed Butler finished 1-for-3, extending her on-base streak to 18 games.

Up Next
JMU and Texas State will play in their second game of the series tomorrow, March 16. The first pitch between the Dukes and Bobcats is scheduled at 1:05 p.m., and the game will stream on ESPN+.