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James Madison University
Coastal Carolina
SOFTBALL FALLS TO COASTAL CAROLINA IN EIGHT INNINGS
3/11/2007 5:00:00 AM | Softball
The Dukes got on the board early scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. The first was scored when Lauren Mernin (Herndon, Va./Herndon) drew a walk with the bases loaded and Jenn Chavez (Upland, Calif./Upland) scored.
Courtney Simons (Richmond, Va./Deep Run) followed her with an RBI single to first when the ball bounced off the first baseman's glove. First baseman, Cillis, recovered but there was no one covering first.
Kaitlyn Wernsing (Clemmons. N.C./West Forsyth) followed with a single up the middle to score another run for the Dukes.
JMU added another run in the second to take a 4-0 lead going into the bottom of the second.
Coastal Carolina scored three runs in the bottom of the second. After the leadoff hitter reached on an error. Cillis and Alicia Irwin followed with singles to load the bases. Carla Hood then reached on an error and Coastal Carolina scored its first run.
Danyelle Gerdts followed with an RBI single and Glynn Tolleson hit a sacrifice fly to right field to plate two more runs before the inning ended with JMU leading 4-3.
The Chanticleers added three more runs in the bottom of the third when Irwin hit a three-run home run and gave Coastal Carolina its first lead of the game at 6-4.
The Dukes took the lead in the top of the fourth after Chavez hit a triple to left field that plated two runs to tie the game and then scored on a wild pitch to give JMU a 7-6 lead going into the bottom of the fourth.
Coastal Carolina came back again in the bottom of the fourth when the leadoff hitter, Kristina Sheppard, hit a solo home-run that fell out of the centerfielder's glove and over the wall.
Cillis reached on an error, which allowed another run to score and give the Chanticleers an 8-7 lead going into the fifth.
The score remained the same through the fifth and then the Dukes took the lead in the top of the sixth when Simons hit a three-run home run to right field.
The Dukes took a 10-8 lead and it stayed that way until the bottom of the seventh.
Tolleson hit an RBI double down the left field line and Cantrell hit an RBI triple down the right field line to tie the game and force extra innings.
The Dukes were unable to score in the top of the eighth and had two outs in the bottom of the eighth when Cillis hit a walk-off home run to win the game for Coastal Carolina 11-10.
Branden Moss (Richmond, Va./Trinity Episcopal) started the game for JMU but got no decision. Moss went 2 1/3 giving up six runs, five of which were earned, on seven hits and striking out one.
Jenny Clohan (Ashburn, Va./Broad Run) got the loss going 5 1/3 innings and giving up five runs only two of which were earned, on nine hits, and striking out six.
The Dukes have their first home game this Wednesday, March 14 against St. Francis. The game is a doubleheader and set to begin at 2:00 p.m. Â
