LYNCHBURG, Va. (JMU Athletics) – Tied at one heading into the fifth inning, James Madison softball could not stop Liberty’s Savannah Woodard as she hit the go-ahead home run in the fifth, as the Dukes lost a hard-fought game, 2-1, on Tuesday night in Lynchburg.

Woodard accounted for both runs for Liberty (17-4), with a sacrifice fly in the third and the go-ahead solo shot in the fifth.

Reed Butler had an all-out effort for JMU (6-9) on both sides of the ball, contributing the lone Dukes run on an RBI single and then saving a run from scoring with a diving catch in left center field.

Kylee Gleason earned her third multi-hit game of the season with two hits, as she extended her hitting streak to a team-best four games.

Kirsten Fleet allowed five hits on two earned runs in five innings pitched and Madalyn Johnson came on in relief to pitch a scoreless sixth and keep it a one-run ball game.

Paige Bachman earned her first save of the season for the Flames, pitching two innings of two-hit ball. The senior escaped James Madison runners on second and third to close out the game in the seventh.

How It Happened
Third Inning
• Following a triple to center by Liberty’s Savanah Whatley, second baseman Savannah Woodard hit a sacrifice fly to bring her home for the Flames’ first run.

Fourth Inning
• Reed Butler tied the game at one apiece with an RBI single to left center, scoring Raegan Wall from third

Fifth Inning
• Woodard struck again, this time with a solo shot to right center to put the Flames back up by one.

Game Notes
• James Madison moves to 15-11 all-time against Liberty and 1-9 in Lynchburg
• After Tuesday’s contest, the Dukes are 0-3 in games this season in which they are tied going into the fifth inning
• Gleason has a six-game on-base streak, the fourth five-plus on-base streak for a Duke this season. Madison Edwards previously had a seven-game streak, and Cali Legzdin also reached base six straight games this season
• Jasmine Hall played in her 150th game at James Madison on Tuesday, joining Butler as the only two current Dukes to play in 150 games at JMU in their careers
• Butler has recorded an RBI in five of the last seven contests, which leads the team

— JMU Athletics —