HARRISONBURG, VA -- The James Madison softball team swept a doubleheader from Delaware, 5-2 and 4-1, Saturday afternoon at the JMU Softball Complex.

James Madison, which improved to 29-20 overall and 13-6 in the conference to secure a berth in the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament, struck first in the opener by scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Shannon Moxey led off with a single to leftcenter, and Courtney Simons then reached on a fielder’s choice as Moxey was safe at second on a throwing error by Blue Hen pitcher Samantha Shawn. Moxey was then thrown out at third when Amber Kirk reached on a fielder’s choice, but Jenn Chavez followed with a walk to load the bases. Julia Dominguez then hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to drive home Simons with the first run of the game. Kaitlyn Wernsing then singled to center to plate Kirk, but UD centerfielder Katie Lee (at right) threw out Chavez at the plate to prevent further damage.

Delaware, which fell to 22-25 overall and 4-16 in the league, tied the game with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth. Shanette White led off with a walk, and after a sacrifice bunt by Caitlin Smith, Lindsay Novak walked to put two runners on base. The runners then advanced to second and third when Barbara Traynor grounded out, and Lee followed with a two-run single up the middle to knot the game at 2-2.

However Simons led off the bottom of the fifth with a single to center, and she came around to score the go-ahead run when Kirk doubled down the leftfield line. Chavez then moved pinch runner Megan Forbes to third base with a sacrifice bunt, and Dominguez followed with a single through the left side of the infield to plate Forbes and make it a 4-2 game.

The Dukes added an insurance run in the sixth as Simons doubled to rightcenter with two outs, went to third on an infield single by Kirk, and scored when Chavez singled up the middle.

James Madison starter Meredith Felts improved to 14-8 after allowing two earned runs on three hits with nine strikeouts, while Shawn dropped to 9-14 as she gave up five runs, three earned, on 12 hits with two strikeouts.

In addition to Lee’s two-run single, Michelle Grap and Amanda Nyisztor each had singles for the Blue Hens.

James Madison jumped ahead in the second game by scoring a run in the bottom of the third inning. Lauren Mernin led off the frame by singling to second base and was pinch run for by Forbes. After Forbes moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Chel’sea Ryan and stole third, she scored on a double to right by Moxey.

Delaware answered with a run in the top of the fourth, as Quinn Megargel led off with a walk and two outs later scored on a double to leftcenter by White. But the Dukes would take control by scoring three runs in the bottom of the fifth.

Mernin again led off with a single, and after an out Moxey singled and Simons was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Kirk then singled through the left side to plate two runs, and the Dukes tried to add another run when Chavez singled to right, but UD rightfielder Marianne Marinella threw out Simons at the plate. However Kirk then scored when Blue Hen starting pitcher Anne Marie Pagano threw a wild pitch.

Dukes starter Jenny Clohan improved to 10-7 after allowing one earned run on two hits with 10 strikeouts, while Pagano fell to 13-10 as she gave up four earned runs on nine hits with five strikeouts.

White went 1 for 3 with an RBI for Delaware, while Nyisztor had the other Blue Hen hit and Megargel walked twice to go with a run scored.

Delaware and James Madison wrap up their weekend series with a 1 p.m. game on Sunday in the Blue Hens’ 2008 season finale.

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