James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
Kirsten Fleet Shines as Home Runs Push Dukes Past Penn State
3/1/2025 6:48:00 PM | Softball
SALEM, Va. –  Kirsten Fleet dominated in her second complete game in as many days, as James Madison softball hit three home runs to roll past Penn State, for its four straight win on day two of action at the Hokie Invite in Salem, Va. Â
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Fleet held Penn State (7-10) to just one run over seven innings of work, while striking out six.
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It was the sophomore's first time throwing a complete game in back-to-back days, and the first time a JMU (6-7) student-athlete has achieved the feat since Odicci Alexander against Oklahoma and Oklahoma State on June 3 and 4, 2021, during the Women's College World Series.
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Payton List launched her second two-run shot in the last four games, to aid in her fifth multi-hit game of the season.
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Cali Legzdin also went yard with a solo shot to right, her first collegiate homer. Reed Butler capped off the scoring with her first home run of the year to left center.
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How It Happened
Third Inning
Sixth Inning
Seventh Inning
Game Notes
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Fleet held Penn State (7-10) to just one run over seven innings of work, while striking out six.
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It was the sophomore's first time throwing a complete game in back-to-back days, and the first time a JMU (6-7) student-athlete has achieved the feat since Odicci Alexander against Oklahoma and Oklahoma State on June 3 and 4, 2021, during the Women's College World Series.
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Payton List launched her second two-run shot in the last four games, to aid in her fifth multi-hit game of the season.
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Cali Legzdin also went yard with a solo shot to right, her first collegiate homer. Reed Butler capped off the scoring with her first home run of the year to left center.
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How It Happened
Third Inning
- List took a 2-2 pitch and sent it flying over the left field fence for a 2-0 Dukes lead
Sixth Inning
- Legzdin knocked a solo shot to right field, extending the lead to three
- Butler followed suit with one away and hit one out to left center to make it 4-0
Seventh Inning
- Penn State's Natalie Lieto homered to center field to put the Nittany Lions on the board, 4-1
Game Notes
- James Madison is 4-2 all-time against Penn State, dating back to 2003
- JMU earned its first win over a Big 10 opponent since defeating Michigan State by a score of 5-0 in the Phoenix Invitational on Feb. 19, 2023
- The Dukes have won four straight games, their longest winning streak since winning eight in a row from April 12-20, 2024
- Over her last three appearances, Fleet has thrown 19 innings, allowing just three runs and fanning eleven
- JMU is now 4-1 during the 2024-25 campaign when hitting at least one home run
- Through 13 games, Legzdin leads the team in five different categories, including batting average (.429), RBI (7, tied with List), and stolen bases (5)
- James Madison batters struck out once in Saturday's contest, which marks the third time this season the Dukes have struck out one time or less.
- In 2024, JMU struck out one or less times on eight separate occasions
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Fleet, Kirsten (3-2)
L: Mady Volpe (3-3)

Batting:
2B: List, Payton 1
HR: Legzdin, Cali 1 ; List, Payton 1 ; Butler, Reed 1
RBI: Legzdin, Cali 1 ; List, Payton 2 ; Butler, Reed 1
SH: Legzdin, Cali 1 ; Romero, Lily 1 ; Wall, Raegan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Campbell, Abbie 1 ; Legzdin, Cali 1 ; List, Payton 1 ; Butler, Reed 1
CS: Gleason, Kylee 1

Batting:
2B: Brooke Klosowicz 1
HR: Natalie Lieto 1
RBI: Natalie Lieto 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Natalie Lieto 1
PO: Kaylie Walters 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
Players Mentioned
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