Jared Benko Director of Athletics | Georgia Southern University Athletic Department
Jared Benko Director of Athletics | Georgia Southern University Athletic Department
James Madison plated three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to pick up a 6-5 Sun Belt Conference softball victory over visiting Georgia Southern on Saturday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Park.
The Dukes (19-7, 4-1 SBC) claim the first series from the Eagles (11-16, 1-4 SBC) as new members of the Sun Belt. The two teams will wrap up their three-game series on Sunday with a Noon contest.
The Eagles opened up the scoring in the contest in the top of the second as Courtney Ball tripled to left center, bringing home Brooke Kell and Olivia Creamer for the 2-0 lead.
Kinley Stewart then led off the top of the fourth inning with her first collegiate home run, staking the Eagles to a 3-0 lead.
James Madison seemingly took the lead in the bottom of the fourth as Jamine Hall launched a ball out of the park with the bases loaded. But after her three teammates came home, Hall did not touch home plate, resulting in the final out of the inning and only three runs scoring for the Dukes.
The score remained 3-all until the top of the eighth inning. Janiyah Strong delivered a sacrifice fly to put the Eagles back in front, then Emma Davis scored on a wild pitch to make the score 5-3.
But the Dukes had four straight hits in the bottom of the eighth - a solo home run by Bella Henzler, then three straight doubles for the final 6-5 score.
Kylah Berry (7-0) notched the win for JMU, pitching five-plus innings in two stints, giving up eight hits and five runs, walking three and striking out three. Bailey Holland (3-10) took the loss in relief for the Eagles, giving up seven hits and three runs in three-plus innings, walking one and striking out one.
Ball went 2-for-3 with two RBI to lead the Eagles offensively, while Davis and Dejah Mills had two hits apiece.
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