DUKES SHUT OUT PIONEERS 5-0

Friday, February 20

Columbia, S.C.

3 p.m.

James Madison University

Sacred Heart

2/20/2009 5:00:00 AM | Softball

COLUMBIA, S.C., Feb. 20, 2009 ? The James Madison softball team ran its winning streak to six games after shutting out Sacred Heart 5-0 in the JMU's opening game of the Gamecock Invitational.

Madison improved to 7-3 while the Pioneers fell to 0-2.

Senior right-hander Jenny Clohan (Ashburn, Va./Broad Run) went the distance for the Dukes, throwing her third complete game and second shutout of the season. She improved to 6-1.

JMU opened the scoring with a run in the top of the second inning. Freshman designated player Caitlen Manning (Prince George, Va./Prince George) singled to left field with one out in her first-career at bat. Junior center fielder Brittney Dyson (Waldorf, Md./Thomas Stone) followed with her own single to left to put runners on first and second. With two outs, senior second baseman Kaitlyn Wernsing (Clemmons, N.C./West Forsyth) hit a chopper through the shortstop's legs, allowing Manning to score the game's first run.

That was all the offense Clohan needed as she shut down the SHU offense, only twice allowing a runner to reach as far as second base. The Ashburn, Va., native allowed two hits, three walks and no runs and struck out six as she won her 40th-career game as a Duke.

Madison added a run in top of the third. Senior third baseman Amber Kirk (Hamilton, Va./Loudoun County) started this off with a one-out walk and stole second. She moved to third on an infield single by junior right fielder Courtney Simons (Richmond, Va./Deep Run) before scoring on a sacrifice fly by senior catcher Julia Dominguez (Sterling, Va./Park View).