HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison softball opened its home slate Thursday evening with a 6-2 victory against Saint Joseph’s in the first game of the LD&B Invitational at Veterans Memorial Park.

The Dukes improved to 11-5 on the year, while the Hawks fell to 4-11.

Junior Alissa Humphrey was solid in the circle, going the distance and striking out 11 batters while conceding just two runs on four hits. She improved to 6-2 this season.

Graduate student Avery Pinder and sophomore Jasmine Hall each went 2-for-3 to lead the offense, while graduate student Hannah Shifflett had a double and scored twice while driving in three runs.

Also contributing one hit each were graduate student Hallie Hall, freshman KK Mathis and junior Hannah Hennessy.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Saint Joe’s struck first in the opening frame with an RBI single by Madison Fife.

• The Dukes answered in the bottom half with a pair of runs, as Jasmine Hall singled down the right field line to score Shifflett. Hallie Hall put JMU up for good on the next at-bat, driving home Jasmine with an RBI double to right center.

• JMU extended the lead to 5-1 thanks to three more runs in the second inning.

• Shifflett doubled to right to score Pinder and freshman Kate Carrier, and she later crossed the plate thanks to a combination of a Jasmine Hall single and a SJU throwing error.

• Teams traded a run each in the fourth, as Jessica Gaughan led off with a solo home run to left for the visitors while Hennessy scored on a fielder’s choice in the bottom half to make it a 6-2 game.

• In the top of the seventh, Saint Joseph’s loaded the bases with a pair of walks and a Fife single, but Humphrey shut the door with back-to-back strikeouts to close the game.

UP NEXT
The LD&B Invitational continues Friday with three scheduled games at Veterans Memorial Park, weather pending. JMU is set to host Coppin State at 1:30 p.m.

— JMU Athletics —