Flames News

JMU Halts Liberty Offense to Complete Sweep

Beth Bennett recorded her sixth home run of the year in Wednesday's Game 2 loss to James Madison.

James Madison barely out-hit the Lady Flames in a low-scoring contest, winning the second game of a non-conference doubleheader, 2-1, to record the sweep, Wednesday afternoon, at the JMU Softball Complex.

The first hit of the game came from James Madison designated player Katie Spitzer, a single to center field in the bottom of the second. But she never got any further, as the Liberty defense got out of the inning unscathed.

The first run of the game was scored by the Dukes in the bottom of the fourth inning. After Spitzer singled to left field with one out, pinch runner Megan Forbes stole second, and crossed the plate on a double by Jenny Clohan, giving James Madison the 1-0 lead.

The Lady Flames answered in a big way in the top of the fifth, when senior Beth Bennett put the Lady Flames on the board with a solo home run over the center field fence, her sixth of the year.

Kelly Strickland followed up with a double to left center, and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Keely McMillon. But the rally ended there, with Strickland staying stranded at third as the James Madison defense forced back-to-back outs, and the game moved into the bottom of the fifth with a 1-1 score.

Liberty pitcher Sarah Ellis only tossed five pitches in the bottom of the fifth, as Julie Dominguez fouled out to shortstop, Brittany Dyson grounded out to third and Shannon Moxey popped up to short for a quick half-inning.

But the Dukes stormed back in the bottom of the sixth to break the tie. After Ashley Burnham walked to lead off the inning, she advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Amber Kirk. She then moved to third on a passed ball, and scored the go-ahead run when Spitzer hit a long sacrifice fly to right field.

The Liberty offense could not generate a rally in the top of the seventh, as the game ended on a double play.
Bennett, whose home run was her second in four games, led the Lady Flames, batting 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored. Strickland recorded the only other hit for Liberty.

The performance at the plate marks only the second time in the last nine games that the Liberty offense has been held to less than four hits.

James Madison was led by Spitzer, who batted 2-for-2 with an RBI.

Ellis (8-16) threw her second-straight game of the day, picking up the loss. She scattered four hits and struck out one batter in six innings of work.

Meredith Felts (10-4) walked away with the victory, giving up only two hits and striking out seven batters in the complete game appearance.

The Dukes improve to 22-11 overall, and remain 2-6 in the CAA.

With the loss, the Lady Flames drop to 14-23 on the year, and now head to Boiling Springs, N.C., to resume conference play with a three-game weekend series against Big South newcomer Gardner-Webb. A doubleheader is scheduled for Friday at 1 p.m., with a single game taking place Saturday at 1 p.m.