Softball Dukes Win Two of Three to Open Season

Saturday, February 18

Burlington, N.C.

2:00 PM

James Madison University

2-0

Elon

5-2

James Madison

Elon

2/18/2012 10:30:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

BURLINGTON, N.C., Feb. 18, 2012 –Bucknell rallied from a 5-1 deficit, scoring six runs in the top of the seventh inning to earn a come-from-behind 7-5 win over James Madison in the final game of tripleheader for JMU in the Phoenix Softball Clash on Saturday.

The loss drops the Dukes to 2-1 on the season after earning wins over Presbyterian and Elon earlier in the day. Bucknell also won two of three on the day to start of the year with a 2-1 record.

Freshman right-hander Reba DePriest (Apache Junction, Ariz./Skyline) took the tough-luck loss to drop to 0-1 on the year. She allowed six runs, only one of which was earned, while striking out two and walking three in 6 1/3 innings pitched. Fellow rookie right-hander Sarah Mooney (Huntersville, N.C./North Mecklenburg) allowed one run on one hit and a walk in 2/3 innings of relief.

Courtney Conover earned the win in relief to improve to 1-0. She allowed one hit in 1 2/3 innings of shutout relief. Alex MacLean drew the start for the Bison, going 4 1/3 innings and ceding five runs on nine hits and two walks and striking out two.

Junior catcher Megan Shinaberry (Davie, Fla./McCarthy) paced the Madison offense, going 1-for-2 with a home run, three RBIs and a run while Mooney had two hits and a run scored. Junior center fielder Jasmine Butler (Winter Garden, Fla./West Orange) added two hits, including a triple and a run scored.

Third baseman Mallory Lyons hit the go-ahead grand slam to lead Bucknell offensively. Center fielder Kristen Zahn added two hits, a RBI and two runs scored.

JMU wasted little time jumping out to the lead in the bottom of the first inning. Butler started the offense with a one-out triple to right field before scoring on a double to deep center by senior shortstop Ashley Burnham (Danvers, Mass./Danvers).

Three more hits in the bottom of the second inning added another run for the Dukes. Sophomore third baseman Caitlin Sandy (Fayetteville, N.C./Jack Britt) started things with a double to center and moved to third on a stolen base. After a walk by junior first baseman Kaitlyn Barbour (Nokesville, Va./Brentsville District), freshman right fielder Morgan Heath (Yorktown, Va./Grafton) found the