photos courtesy of Mark Campbell

Boxscore

NEWARK, Del. -- James Madison scored two runs in the top of the fifth inning and added one in the sixth as the Dukes rallied to defeat Delaware, 5-3, Sunday afternoon in Colonial Athletic Association softball action at Delaware Field.

The Dukes, who took the rubber game of the three-game series after the teams split a doubleheader on Saturday, improve to 16-6 overall and 2-1 in the conference. Delaware falls to 5-10 overall and 1-2 in league play.

James Madison didn’t waste any time in taking the early lead, as Shannon Moxey led off the game by tripling down the rightfield line and scored when Courtney Simons followed with a single to third base.

After a groundout Amber Kirk reached on an error by Michelle Kenney to put runners on the corners, and Simons crossed the plate when Ashley Burnham beat out an infield single and UD shortstop Kim Ovittore’s throw to first got by Kenney.

The Blue Hens answered right back in the bottom of the first, as Michelle Grap (top right) singled to centerfield with two outs and Ovittore followed with an RBI triple to rightcenter.

Delaware went ahead in the bottom of the third inning by pushing across a pair of runs. With one one Katie DeSalvo singled up the middle, and one out later Grap singled into left. Ovittore was then intentionally walked to load the bases, and pinch hitter Shanette White (bottom right) followed with a single up the middle to drive home DeSalvo and Grap and put the Blue Hens up 3-2.

However the Dukes responded with two runs in the top of the fifth to take the lead for good. After walks to Simons and Kirk put runners on base with two outs, Katie Spitzer drilled a two-run double to right to put JMU on top by a run. James Madison added an insurance run in the sixth when Chel’sea Ryan beat out an infield single and scored on a double to leftcenter by Moxey.

Dukes pitcher Meredith Felts did not allow a hit the rest of the way, as she improved to 7-2 on the season. Felts gave up three earned runs on five hits while posting four strikeouts and walking two. Blue Hen starter Anne Marie Pagano fell to 4-4 after allowing four runs, three earned, on seven hits and striking out two in five innings of work, while reliever Amanda Stacevicz gave up one earned run on two hits in the final two innings.

Grap finished 2 for 2 with a pair of runs scored and a walk for Delaware, while White was 1 for 2 with a pair of runs batted in. DeSalvo went 1 for 4 with a run scored for the Blue Hens, while Ovittore was 1 for 2 with an RBI and a walk.

Delaware returns to action on Wednesday when the Blue Hens travel to in-state rival Delaware State for a 2:30 p.m. doubleheader with the Hornets.