James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
James Madison University
Illinois
SOFTBALL SPLITS A PAIR TO OPEN SEASON
2/6/2009 5:00:00 AM | Softball
PALM SPRINGS, CALIF., Feb. 6, 2009 ? The James Madison softball team split a pair of games as the Dukes opened up their 2009 season at the Cathedral City Kickoff in Palm Springs, Calif. on Friday. The Dukes upended Boise State 9-1 in six innings to kick things off before falling 6-4 to Illinois in game two.
JMU opens its season at 1-1 while the Illini start off 2-0 and the Broncos 0-2.
The Dukes got two hits, including a home run and two RBIs from senior catcher Julia Dominguez (Sterling, Va./Park View) but were unable to overcome a bad fourth and fifth inning on their way to falling to Illinois.
After Madison took a 2-0 lead through three innings, the Illini responded with four runs in the top of the fourth. UI first baseman Hope Hackett started the inning with a solo home run to right-center field. After a groundout, shortstop Danielle Vaji walked and center fielder Jamie Adishian doubled down the left-field line. Second baseman Danielle Zymkowitz followed with a single to score Vaji. Catcher Lana Armstrong capped the inning with a 2-run double to put the Illini up 4-2.
Zymkowitz went 4-for-4 with three RBIs, three steals, a run scored and a walk. Armstrong was 1-for-4 with two RBIs.
Illinois added to its lead in the fifth after Hackett and Vaji walked followed by a triple by Zymkowitz.
The Dukes fought back, adding a pair of runs in the sixth.
