HARRISONBURG, Va. (JMU Athletics) – James Madison (17-20, 5-8 SBC) softball opened its three-game series with timely hitting and strong pitching, taking down Louisiana (22-16, 5-8 SBC) in game one at Veterans Memorial Park, 6-2, on Friday night.

Payton List finished 2-for-3 with an RBI while also tossing three innings in the circle, striking out five. Cali Legzdin and Kendra Lewis both notched home runs and finished with two RBIs apiece to lead the offense. Taylor Johnson earned the win with three innings of relief and three strikeouts.

How It Happened:
• Kendra Lewis set the tone in the first inning with a two-run homer to center field, scoring Kylee Gleason and giving JMU an early 2-0 lead.
• The Dukes added on in the second when Gleason doubled to left, bringing home Legzdin.
• In the third, the Ragin’ Cajuns scored a run on a bases-loaded walk but Payton List doubled in a run in the home half of the inning to restore the three-run lead.
• A big two-run homer from Cali Legzdin extended the lead for JMU, giving the Dukes a 6-1 lead in the sixth.
• UL hit a solo homer in the seventh to make the score 6-2, but the Cajuns lined into a double play and the grounded out to seal the win for JMU.

Game two of the series is slated for 1 p.m. tomorrow, April 10 at Veterans Memorial Park

— JMU Athletics —