STATESBORO, Ga. (JMU Athletics) – Georgia Southern scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth to take control, holding on for a 4-2 victory over James Madison softball on Sunday afternoon at Eagle Field.

JMU (29-19, 11-10 Sun Belt) suffered its second sweep of the season, scoring two runs on six hits. Georgia Southern improved to 27-20 and 9-12 in conference play on four runs, five hits, and one error.

Reed Butler picked up her 21st multi-hit game of the season, finishing 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored. Bella Henzler went 2-for-2 with a walk, RBI, and run scored, while KK Mathis tallied two walks, which tied her season high.

In the circle, Kirsten Fleet worked 4.1 innings, allowing three earned runs with two walks and a strikeout. Alissa Humphrey entered in the fifth inning and pitched the rest of the way, striking out two batters while allowing one run. The senior now owns 498 punchouts in her career.

How It Happened
• Butler lined a first-pitch single to left in the top of the first, and Hallie Hall moved her over with a sacrifice bunt. After Mathis walked, Henzler lined a single to center to give the Dukes a 1-0 lead after half an inning.
• Georgia Southern put two runners on with a bunt single and walk in the bottom of the first, but a groundout and flyout ended the inning and kept the score at 1-0.
• Madison Edwards reached on an error with one out in the second and subsequently stole second. After a strikeout, Butler singled to left center, bringing Edwards home and extending the Dukes lead to 2-0.
• Fleet sat down the Eagles in order in the bottom of the second with two groundouts and a flyout.
• JMU held a 2-0 lead to the bottom of the fifth inning until Georgia Southern scored four runs on four hits to take a 4-2 lead.
• After both teams traded scoreless sixth innings, Abbie Campbell smacked a one-out double in the top of the seventh.
• After a Butler flyout and walk from Hall, a diving catch from Georgia Southern ended the game and gave the Eagles the sweep.

Game Notes
• With three games left in the regular season, JMU sits in sixth place in the Sun Belt standings.
• Butler reached base for the 12th straight game, the second streak of more than 10 games this season.
• Campbell has now hit safely in the last five games. In that same span, the junior is hitting .400 (6-for-15) with a double and two home runs.
• Rebecca Muh finished with a 0.88 ERA in 8.0 innings pitched this weekend.

Up Next
JMU will return home to Harrisonburg for its Senior Day and throwback weekend against Coastal Carolina. The series will kick off on Thursday, May 2 at 4 p.m. and will be on radio at ESPN Harrisonburg (106.9 FM | 1360 AM) and via the Varsity Network App.

— JMU Athletics —