GREENVILLE, N.C. – James Madison softball saved its most dramatic finish for in the finale of the Pirate Clash on Sunday, as it erupted for five runs in the seventh inning to fuel a 7-5 comeback win over East Carolina at the Max R. Joyner Family Stadium.
Â
The Dukes (6-6) wrapped up the weekend with a 4-1 record, splitting the matchups with the host Pirates (9-7).Â
Â
Tied at 2-2 heading to the seventh, JMU loaded the bases and
Emily LeGrand deliver a base hit deep to left center in what would be the eventual game-winning hit. Two players scored on the hit, and both she and
Bella Henzler scored on a throwing error to make it 6-2. Another RBI single from
Lisey St. Jean made it 7-2.
Â
In the bottom half, ECU hit a three-run home run off the bat of Trinity Nichols, but the Dukes retired the ensuing batter for the win.
Â
Three Dukes recorded a pair of hits, including
Emma Jo Evans, who hit JMU's lone home run of the afternoon and scored twice.
Kylee Gleason and Henzler also went 2-for-3 in the win.
Kirsten Fleet went the distance, getting the win after allowing five runs and 10 hits with a pair of strikeouts off 123 pitches.
Â
For ECU, Nichols led the hosts with a 3-for-4 game, which included a game-high four RBI.
Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Pirates struck first, scoring on a single in the second inning.
- JMU answered with a Madison Edwards RBI double in the third, but ECU came back with Nichols' first scoring hit of the day on a RBI single in the fifth.
- Evans tied the game again, this time at 2-2, in the top of the sixth with a solo shot to deep left field.
- After getting out of a jam in the bottom of the sixth, JMU took over in the seventh with its five runs off the LeGrand and St. Jean hits.
Â
UP NEXT
The Dukes open their home slate on Feb. 27 through March 1 when hosting the Lakeside Book Invitational from Bank of the James Field at Veterans Memorial Park. JMU welcomes both Buffalo and Hofstra to Harrisonburg for the three-day event.