HARRISONBURG, Va. (JMU Athletics) – The James Madison softball team tied a season-high five home runs to complete a three-game series sweep over Marshall, 11-3, in Sun Belt Conference action on Sunday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Park.

JMU improved to 24-16 and 8-7 in league play, moving past Marshall (20-21, 6-9 SBC) in the Sun Belt East Division standings and now sit in fifth place overall. The Dukes eclipsed double-digit runs for the fourth time this season, recording 11 runs on nine hits.

Lexi Rogers broke the game open in the bottom of the third with a grand slam, her fourth home run of the year to cap off an eight-run inning for the Dukes. Senior Reed Butler lifted the first pitch she saw for her eighth home run of the season, while Payton List recorded multiple hits for the eighth time in the past 10 games, finishing 2-for-3 with two RBI.

Two other Dukes – KK Mathis and Abbie Campbell – finished with home runs in the 11-run output. JMU only left one batter on base in the contest, including a perfect 3-for-3 with runners in scoring position.

How It Happened
• Marshall scored its eighth first-inning run of the weekend on a solo home run from Bella Gerlach, taking a 1-0 lead.
• Butler kicked off the scoring for JMU with her eighth home run of the season on the first pitch of the bottom half, tying the game at 1-1.
• Campbell launched her second long ball of the season to give the Dukes a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third.
• JMU loaded the bases with nobody out on walks from Butler and Mathis and a double from Hallie Hall, forcing a Marshall pitching change.
• List found grass down the right field line to drive in Butler and give the Dukes a 3-1 lead.
• Bella Henzler added to the JMU lead with an RBI single (4-1), and Jasmine Hall worked a bases-loaded walk to extend the lead to 5-1.
• After a Marshall pitching change, Rogers lifted a grand slam to left – growing the lead to 9-1 and blowing the game open with her fourth home run of the year.
• The Herd scratched across a pair of runs in the top of the fourth to trim the JMU lead to 9-3.
• Consecutive home runs from Mathis and List in the bottom of the fourth gave the Dukes an eight-run cushion (11-3).
• Marshall was retired in order in the top of the fifth, giving JMU the run-ruled victory.

Game Notes
• JMU improved to 15-3 at home this season, scoring an average of 8.2 runs per game.
• The Dukes swept their second consecutive Sun Belt series at home.
• List’s 2-for-3 performance boosted her batting average in league play to .417 (20-for-48). Moreover, the redshirt freshman leads the team in doubles (4) and RBI (13) in conference action.
• After picking up two hits this weekend, Mathis brought her career total to 95.

Up Next
JMU hosts the Longwood Lancers for a doubleheader at 3 and 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 17. The game can be seen on ESPN+ ($) as Curt Dudley and Grace McCabe will provide commentary, while Dave Riggert will provide radio coverage through the Varsity Network App and 106.9 FM.

— JMU Athletics —