NEWS RELEASE
Feb. 28, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Savanah Wilkerson, JMU Sports Writer
wilkersn@dukes.jmu.edu
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Dukes finished off a rocky weekend with solid wins over South Alabama and UMass last Sunday, in the final day of the Gamecock Invitational.
Going into the final day of the weekend, JMU was 3-0 after two losses to Charlotte, one loss to No. 17 South Carolina. A win over South Alabama gave JMU the push they needed to finish the weekend strong. Bella Henzler started off the Dukes, followed by Jasmine Hall, both getting on base with a walk and a single. KK Mathis would score Henzler with a RBI single in the first inning putting JMU up 1-0.
JMU advanced its lead to 3-0 in the fourth inning, preventing UMass from getting on the board yet. Starting pitcher and newcomer Kirsten Fleet, had a strong performance, striking out a career high nine batters on Sunday.
In the top of the sixth inning, Hallie Hall hit a single up the middle, resulting in Abbie Campbell bringing in a fourth run for the Dukes. UMass was finally able to return for the first and only time with two runs at the bottom of the sixth.
In the seventh inning JMU clinched their win with Grad Student, Reed Butler, scoring a homer and a single from Kate Carrier resulting in Madison Edwards running across home plate.
Butler put up big numbers for the Dukes last weekend with 3 RBI’s, 1 hit and 1 run over Umass. Reed totaled two homers on Sunday which tied her career-high five home-runs.
The Dukes advance to 10-4 overall on a two-game win streak and are set to take on Omaha in their first match of the ASU Invitational next Friday, Mar. 1 at 4 p.m. Eastern time.