LAFAYETTE, La. (JMU Athletics) – Miscues by the James Madison softball defense proved to be the difference in Sunday’s contest as the Ragin’ Cajun defeated the Dukes by a score of 9-2 to take the third game of the Sun Belt Conference set on Sunday afternoon at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park.

Seven out of the nine runs given up by the JMU (18-21, 5-10 SBC) pitching staff were unearned, as Louisiana (20-22, 6-9 SBC) cashed in on four Dukes errors, including a four-spot in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Gabbie Stutes was a catalyst for the Cajuns, going 2-for-3 with three RBI in Sunday’s ballgame. Cecilia Vasquez and Kayla Falterman also contributed two hits, aiding in Louisiana’s nine-run performance.

Reed Butler paced the Dukes with her second consecutive multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 with an RBI double. Madison Edwards, Kylee Gleason, and Payton List all registered a hit as well in the contest.

Mallory Wheeler went six innings allowing two runs on five hits and fanning two Dukes to achieve her eighth win of the season. Tyra Clary finished off the victory for Louisiana, pitching a perfect seventh inning, as she sat the JMU offense down in order.

How It Happened
First Inning
• Mia Norwood reached on a JMU fielding error to plate the first run of the game for Louisiana, 1-0
• Erin Ardoin singled to left field with the bases loaded to score another for the Cajuns to make it a 2-0 lead in the first

Second Inning
• Mia Liscano scored on a fielder’s choice, extending the lead for Louisiana, 3-0

Third Inning
• Butler doubled to left field to get the Dukes on the board, scoring List from second
• Jasmine Hall pushed JMU closer, scoring the runner from third on a sacrifice fly, 3-2

Fifth Inning
• Stutes singled through the left side with the bases loaded and advanced to second on the throw to score two and give the Cajuns a 5-2 lead
• Laney Credeur drove another in on a sacrifice fly, pushing the lead to 6-2 Louisiana
• Maddie Hayden legged out an infield single to complete the four-spot for the Ragin’ Cajuns in the fifth inning

Sixth Inning
• Stutes added on her second RBI single, scoring Vasquez and extending the lead to 8-2
• Liscano dropped down a bunt single to score the runner from third, pushing the Cajuns advantage to seven.

Game Notes
• James Madison drops to 5-15 when its opponents score first during the 2025 campaign
• With her sacrifice fly, Hall needs just five more RBI to encapsulate 100 in her career
• Gleason edged closer to 100 career hits with her base hit in Sunday’s game, needing just four more to reach the milestone
• Lily Romero caught her 10th runner stealing against Louisiana, tying her with Megan Shinaberry (2012) and Renee’ Bounds (2005) for seventh-most in a single season in program history
• List extended her on-base streak to a season-high 11 games, while Wall extended hers to a career-long four contests
• Wall also stole her 15th base of the season, needing two more for the freshman single-season program record of 17 (Jasmine Butler, 2010)

—- JMU Athletics —