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James Madison University
Liberty
Dukes Prepare to Face Flames in Knoxville Regional
5/20/2021 12:00:00 PM | Softball
What: #22 James Madison Dukes (34-1, 17-1 CAA) vs. #24 Liberty Flames (42-13, 16-2 ASUN)
Where: Sherri Parker Lee Stadium - Knoxville, Tenn.
When: Friday, May 21 at 12 p.m.
How to Watch: Live video available at ESPNU live stats available at NCAA.com
Social Media: @JMUSoftball, #GoDukes, #NCAASoftball
JMU HEADS TO KNOXVILLE
- The #22 James Madison softball is set to travel to Knoxville, Tenn. for the NCAA Knoxville Regional hosted by #9 Tennessee. Eastern Kentucky and Liberty will also be competing for the title in Rocky Top.
- JMU is set to face #25 Liberty at noon on Friday, May 21 in the first game of the Regional.
CAA RECAP
- Odicci Alexander earned CAA Pitcher of the Year after her outstanding performance in the circle. During the CAA Tournament she recorded one no-hitter, setting a tournament single-game record for strikeouts (16) and a two-hit shutout against Delaware in the CAA Championships.
- Alissa Humphrey was named CAA Rookie of the Year and to the Schutt Sports/NFCA DI National Freshman of the Year Top 15 after her spectacular freshman campaign as she set the JMU single season record for no-hitters in a season (4). Against Drexel she recorded her fourth no-hitter of the season
- Madison Naujokas was named CAA Defensive Player of the Year after her stellar season at second base.
- Loren LaPorte was named CAA Coach of the Year for the third year in a row after guiding the Dukes to a record of 34-1 and breaking back into the national polls.
-In the CAA Tournament JMU outscored opponents 32-0, recording 26 hits, 10 being home runs and finished with a .413 batting average.
- Kate Gordon set a tournament record for home runs (6), RBI (12) and recorded a leadoff home run in all three games.
- The 2021 JMU softball season is presented by United Bank.
THE LONG BALL
- JMU has recorded 64 home runs this season, 17 off the bat of Gordon.
- The Dukes rank fourth in the nation for home runs per game (1.83)
- Kate Gordon is one long ball away from tying the CAA career home run record (68)
IN THE CIRCLE
- The JMU pitching staff has recorded 14 shutouts, five no-hitters and one perfect game this season.
-The staff holds a 1.40 ERA, ranking fifth in the nation.
- Odicci Alexander ranks third in the nation for ERA (.62), third in strikeout per seven innings (12.2).
- Alissa Humphrey holds a 1.47 ERA and ranks eighth in the nation for K/7 (10.7)
THE STREAK
- JMU is on a 24-game winning streak, the longest active winning streak in the nation and hold the highest W-L percentage of .971.
- Sara Jubas is on a 12-game hitting streak.
- Kate Gordon is on a 13-game hitting streak, while being on a three-game home run streak.
- Odicci Alexander has thrown double-digit strikeouts for the last six games while not giving up an earned run in the last 51.0 innings.
SPEED ON THE BASES
- Madison Naujokas has stolen 23 bases this season with her longest streak being seven games.
- She ranks second on JMU's all-time career list with 59 stolen bases.
- JMU is 46-48 on stolen bases with eighth players contributing to it.
LAST TIME IN KNOXVILLE
- JMU finished 2-1 in the Regional winning the opening game 2-1 over Ohio and then falling to Tennessee 3-12
- JMU was eliminated by Ohio after losing 3-7.
- Gordon fired off one of the two home runs JMU had over the weekend.
FACING LIBERTY
- JMU leads the series with the Flames 13-9 winning the last four matchups.
- Last time the teams faced was in 2019 when JMU won 1-0 scoring the only run in the bottom of the second.
- Liberty is the two seed in the Knoxville Regional after winning the ASUN.
- Kara Canetto leads the Flames with a .388 batting average with 36 runs and 21 RBI.
- Amber & Autumn Bishop are fans of the long ball as they have hit 16 and 12 home runs this year, respectively.
- Emily Kirby is dominate in the circle for Liberty as she is 15-5 with a 1.82 ERA.
