Dukes’ Bats Come Alive in Wins Over Villanova and Lehigh

Friday, February 16

Harrisonburg, Va.

11 a.m.

James Madison University

5-1

Villanova

2-4

Villanova

James Madison

Dukes’ Bats Come Alive in Wins Over Villanova and Lehigh

2/16/2024 6:33:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison softball secured two wins during day one of the Weiler Orthodontics Invitational, taking down Villanova 8-5 and Lehigh 8-1 on Friday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Park.

JMU moved to 6-1 on the season, amassing 25 hits (.410) and scoring 16 runs in the process. With the losses, Villanova dropped to 2-4 and Lehigh to 2-3, respectively.

Sophomore catcher Bella Henzler finished 5-of-8 (.625) in the two games, including two home runs and five RBI. KK Mathis racked up six hits, while Abbie Campbell finished with three hits, two doubles, and a walk.

Freshman Kirsten Fleet worked six innings against Villanova, picking up six strikeouts but yielding five runs. Payton List (2-0) earned the win out of the bullpen, pitching a scoreless top of the seventh. In game two, Alissa Humphrey picked up the win in relief, pitching five scoreless innings.

HOW IT HAPPENED
JMU 8, Villanova 5

In the bottom of the first inning, Isabelle Fishman brought home Madison Edwards on a single down the right field line, which was followed by an RBI single from Jasmine Hall, which gave JMU a 2-0 lead. Fishman then scored on a Villanova error, and the Dukes led 3-0 after the first
The Wildcats got on the board on a hit-by-pitch in the second inning, and Ava Franz brought home two runs on a single to center to tie the score at 3-3.
In the bottom of the fourth, Henzler singled through the left side which was followed by a first-pitch single from Mathis to bring her home, giving the Dukes a 4-3 lead.
Villanova's Madison Ostrowski hit a go-ahead home run to dead center in the top of the sixth, giving the Wildcat a 5-4 lead over JMU.
In the bottom of the seventh and needing a run, Hallie Hall delivered a pinch-hit single, followed by a Campbell double to left center. Lexi Rogers was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Henzler deposited a 2-1 pitch over the left field fence, giving the Dukes the 8-5 walk-off win.

JMU 8, Lehigh 1

In the first inning, Brooke Cannon reached on a fielder's choice, giving Lehigh the 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the frame, Henzler reached on a leadoff single, and Edwards moved her over to second on a sacrifice bunt. Following a Mathis single to left, Henzler stole home to tie the score at one.
Henzler continued her torrid hitting, smashing her second home run of the day in the third inning, which gave JMU a 2-1 lead. A double steal brought Mathis home which extended the lead to 3-1, and Fishman singled up the middle, scoring Butler and cushioning the lead to 4-1.
Morgan Mesaros found a fifth-inning sacrifice fly, scoring Edwards and extending the Dukes' lead to 5-1.
In the fifth inning, JMU extended its lead to 6-1 on an RBI double from H. Hall, scoring Reed Butler.
The Dukes closed out the scoring with a two-RBI single from Butler, extending the JMU lead to 8-1.

GAME NOTES

Henzler has now recorded seven straight multi-hit games, bringing her total to 14-of-28 (.500) on the season.
The Dukes improved to 3-0 versus Villanova and 8-2 against Lehigh.
Mathis picked up six hits in eight at-bats (.750), bringing her season average to .458.
The walk-off grand slam from Henzler is the first since Reed Butler did it versus Troy on April 16, 2023.
H. Hall picked up the 100th base hit of her career in the win vs. Villanova.

UP NEXT
The Dukes will take on Villanova tomorrow at 11 a.m. on day two of the Weiler Orthodontics Invitational.