SOFTBALL SWEEPS MOUNT ST. MARY?S, TIES LONGEST WINNING STREAK

Wednesday, April 18

Emmitsburg, Md.

4:45 p.m.

James Madison University

Mt. St. Mary's

SOFTBALL SWEEPS MOUNT ST. MARY?S, TIES LONGEST WINNING STREAK

4/18/2007 4:00:00 AM | Softball

EMMITSBURG, Md., April 18, 2007 ? James Madison swept Mount St. Mary's in a doubleheader on Wednesday to extend its winning streak to nine games and tie the school record. The only other time the Dukes won nine straight games was in 2005. The Dukes won game one 5-1 and game two 7-0. JMU improved its record to 28-14 while Mount St. Mary's fell to 9-23.

JMU pitchers dominated game two. Renee' Bounds (Denton, Md./North Caroline) and Meredith Felts (Greenville, N.C./J.H. Rose) threw a four-hit combined shutout. Bounds recorded her first victory of the season after she pitched four innings and gave up only four hits while striking out three. Felts recorded her second save of the season giving up no hits while striking out two in three innings of work.

Katie George (Virginia Beach, Va./Tallwood) gave the Dukes an early lead with a leadoff home run (6) in the top of the first that also gave her sole possession of JMU's career home runs record with 16. George currently holds ten records for JMU.

Amber Kirk (Hamilton, Va./Loudoun County) gave the Dukes a 2-0 lead in the third with an RBI single to centerfield that plated Jenn Chavez (Upland, Calif./Upland).

The Dukes added two more in the fourth when George came home on an error by the shortstop and Kirk plated Chavez with another RBI single for a 4-0 lead.

JMU plated three more runs in the seventh inning when Courtney Simons (Richmond, Va./Deep Run) scored on a sacrifice hit by Chel'sea Ryan (Sandston, Va./Henrico) and Jenny Clohan (Ashburn, Va./Broad Run) plated two runs with a single up the middle for the 7-0 victory.

Kaitlyn Wernsing (Clemmons, N.C./West Forsyth) went 2-for-2 in the game while Brittney Lyddane (Manassas, Va./Osbourn Park) went 2-for-3. Chavez went 3-for-5.

The Dukes got on the board first in game one when George scored on a sacrifice fly to right field by Chavez. Kirk added another run with solo shot (4) in the second inning to give JMU a 2-0 lead.

The Mount cut the lead to one in the third inning when Kim Fowler singled down the right field line and plated Kristin Fusco. Branden Moss (Richmond, Va./Trinity Episcopal) pitched her way out of the inning and did not give up another run.

Kendra Johnson (Virginia Beach, Va./Green Run) gave the Dukes a 3-1 in the sixth when she scored on an error by the right fielder. JMU added a pair of runs in the seventh when George hit an RBI single to let field that plated Clohan and Wernsing came home on an error by the left fielder on the same play.

Moss picked up her sixth victory of the season giving up one run, on three hits, while striking out two in four innings of work. Clohan earned her first save of the season after she pitched three innings and gave up only two hits while striking out four.

The Dukes return to action Saturday, April 21 when they host Drexel in a doubleheader that is scheduled to begin at noon.

This weekend will be JMU's Strikeout Cancer Weekend to raise awareness and money for cancer research. Fans are encouraged to donate to the American Cancer Society at the games and anyone who gives $10 will be given a free JMU softball t-shirt while supplies last. If you would like to donate your hair, Locks of Love will be giving haircuts between games. Download a donation form.