James Madison University’s softball team concluded its home-opening weekend at the Lakeside Book Company Invitational with a 5-3 victory over Hofstra on Sunday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Park. The Dukes, now holding an 8-7 record, secured the win with a decisive four-run surge in the sixth inning.
Graduate student Kylee Gleason and junior Madison Edwards each collected two hits during the game. Sophomore Cali Legzdin contributed by driving in two runs. Gleason finished 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Edwards went 2-for-2, scoring a run and adding an RBI.
On the mound, junior Kirsten Fleet earned her sixth win of the season. She threw her second complete game of the year and recorded eight strikeouts, falling just one short of her career best.
The Dukes opened scoring in the third inning when Bella Henzler singled to right field to drive in a run. Hofstra responded in their half of the fourth inning, capitalizing on a fielding error after a double placed a runner in scoring position.
In the sixth inning, James Madison began with four consecutive singles to load the bases. Legzdin then delivered a base hit that brought home two runs, breaking a tie and giving JMU control of the game. The team added two more runs with sacrifice flies from Gleason and Edwards.
Hofstra attempted a comeback in the seventh inning by scoring twice on singles but was held off as JMU forced a groundout to end the game.
Over four games against Buffalo and Hofstra during the invitational, James Madison finished with three wins and one loss. The team totaled 32 runs on 42 hits, including 11 home runs and seven doubles for 32 RBIs.
James Madison is scheduled to play Michigan at Veterans Memorial Park on Wednesday, March 4 at 4 p.m.
