BOONE, N.C. (JMU Athletics) – James Madison softball hit three home runs and racked up 16 hits to power past App State, 9-3, on Saturday afternoon at Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium.
JMU (21-21, 8-9 Sun Belt) totaled nine runs on 16 hits with an error, while App State (26-17, 5-12 Sun Belt) finished with three runs, five hits, and two errors.
Kira Ortega led the way, going 3-for-4 with a double and a home run, while Emily LeGrand (2-for-4) recorded a homer and a double. Cali Legzdin (2-for-4) added a home run of her own, and Emma Jo Evans contributed a 2-for-3 performance.
In the circle, Taylor Johnson picked up her seventh win of the season, tossing four innings of scoreless ball. Kirsten Fleet struck out a pair of batters in 3.0 innings of work, allowing just one earned run.
How It Happened:
• The Dukes set the tone early in the second inning, launching back-to-back solo home runs from LeGrand and Legzdin.
• Evans sparked the rally in the fourth with a single and aggressive baserunning that led to a run.
• Madison Edwards followed with a two-RBI triple to extend the lead to 5-0 in the fourth. Kendra Lewis and LeGrand also drove in runs in the frame to push the Dukes’ lead to 7-0.
• App State answered in the bottom half of the fourth as Kendall Bradshaw drove in a pair of runs with a single, but JMU held a 7-2 lead going to the fifth.
• The Dukes added insurance in the seventh when Kira Ortega blasted a two-run home run to left field, extending the lead to 9-2.
• Bradshaw responded with a solo home run in the bottom half, but it wasn’t enough to overcome JMU’s offensive output.
Up Next
The Dukes will look to take the series on Sunday afternoon against the Mountaineers, as the two teams will square off at 12 p.m.
— JMU Athletics —
