James Madison University defeated Coastal Carolina 17-2 in a Sun Belt Conference softball game on March 22 at Bank of the James Field at Veterans Memorial Park.
The win gave the Dukes a season-high in runs, improving their record to 15-14 overall and 3-3 in conference play. The Chanticleers fell to 17-15 overall and 4-2 in the Sun Belt. The Dukes scored their runs on ten hits and eight walks.
James Madison hit three home runs during the game, including grand slams by Emma Jo Evans and Emily LeGrand. Both players also scored three runs each. Kylee Gleason added a solo home run in the first inning. Taylor Johnson earned her fourth win of the season, allowing just two hits with three strikeouts over three innings.
Coastal Carolina took an early lead with a solo home run from Delaney Keith, but James Madison responded quickly. Gleason’s solo homer tied the game before Evans’ grand slam put the Dukes ahead. In the second inning, Kaelin Cash hit a solo home run for Coastal Carolina, but James Madison answered with ten runs, capped by LeGrand’s grand slam. The Dukes added two more runs in the third inning to secure a run-rule victory.
This performance marked James Madison’s first time scoring at least fifteen runs since March 10, when they scored sixteen against Saint Joseph’s. It also matched their highest run total since February 18, when they scored seventeen against Lehigh. Sunday was also their seventh game this season with at least three home runs and their first such performance in Sun Belt play.
James Madison is scheduled to play its next game on the road against George Mason in Fairfax on March 22.
