HARRISONBURG, Va. (JMU Athletics) – James Madison softball fell, 6-1, to South Alabama in Sunday afternoon’s Sun Belt Conference softball series finale at Veterans Memorial Park.
JMU (16-18, 3-6 Sun Belt) finished with one run on four hits and an error, while South Alabama (23-15, 7-2 SBC) finished with six runs on five hits.
Madison Edwards (2-for-3) and Kendra Lewis (2-for-3) accounted for all four of the Dukes’ hits on the afternoon, as JMU finished with just three runs across the series.
Taylor Johnson earned the start in the circle and was charged with the loss, yielding two earned runs in 2.0 innings.
Tori Miller struck out four batters in 4.0 innings of work to earn the win in the circle for South Alabama, who picked up its first road sweep since 2024. Gracie Dees hit a two-run home run, while Kara Wine and Olivia Branstetter also recorded doubles.
How It Happened
• South Alabama used a decisive third inning to take control of the game, beginning with a two-run home run from Gracie Dees to open the scoring. Later in the frame, Kara Wine delivered a two-run double to center field to make it 4-0.
• The Dukes answered in the fourth inning when Bella Henzler reached on a fielding error, allowing Kendra Lewis to score and cut the deficit to 4–1.
• South Alabama added insurance in the seventh, as Virginia Mambelli drove in a run with a single up the middle before Olivia Branstetter followed with an RBI double to right center, sealing the 6–1 result.
The Dukes look to continue conference play this Thursday April 2 in Hattiesburg, MI, facing Southern Mississippi across a three-day series.
— JMU Athletics —
