GEORGIA STATE ELIMINATES DUKES IN CAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

Thursday, May 13

Hempstead, N.Y.

3:20 p.m.

James Madison University

24-33

Georgia State

37-18

Georgia State

James Madison

5/13/2010 9:00:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y., May 13, 2010 - Second-seeded Georgia State scored four runs in the top of the third and Alana Thomas shut James Madison out over the final six innings as the Panthers eliminated the Dukes 4-3 in the semifinals of the Colonial Athletic Association Championships at the Hofstra Softball Stadium in Hempstead, N.Y. on Thursday.

GSU improves to 37-18 and advances to take on top-seeded Hofstra in the CAA Championship on Friday. JMU ends its season with a 24-33 record.

Thomas gave up three runs, two earned, on six hits and a walk. The sophomore struck out two and improved to 13-5 this season.

Junior right-hander Olivia McPherson (Liberty, N.C./Southern Alamance) took the loss to finish the season at 8-6. She allowed four runs on five hits in 2 1/3 innings. Freshman Cara Stecher (New Castle, Del./Caravel Academy) allowed two hits and two walks while striking out seven in 4 2/3 innings of shutout relief.

The GSU offense was led by third baseman Danielle Roddy. The senior went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI. First baseman Lauren Jones added a double and two RBIs while left fielder Tiffany Bess had a hit, a run and a RBI.

Freshman center fielder Jasmine Butler (Winter Garden, Fla./West Orange) went 2-for-3 with a double to lead the Madison offense. Senior first baseman Shannon Moxey (Church Road, Va./Mills Godwin), junior catcher Katie Spitzer (Broadway, Va./Broadway) and sophomore second baseman Caitlen Manning (Prince George, Va./Prince George) each went 1-for-3 with an RBI with Moxey adding a run scored.

After its rough start in game one, JMU jumped out to an early 3-0 advantage after one inning in game two. Sophomore shortstop Ashley Burnham (Danvers, Mass./Danvers) led off the inning with a walk and advanced to third on a single by senior right fielder Courtney Simons (Richmond, Va./Deep Run). Moxey drove in Burnham with a grounder that first baseman Lauren Jones misplayed for an error. Simons moved to third on the play and scored on an infield single by Manning. Spitzer capped the inning wit