Top Dogs

Dukes capture first JMU Softball Invitational title

Carolyn Walser / senior photographer Freshman Whitnie Ray runs for the Dukes in the JMU Softball Invitational. JMU won the event for the first tmie in the tournament's history by defeating the University of Pittsburgh Sunday afternoon in the title game.

For the first time since the inception of the JMU Softball Invitational in 2001, the host team went home with the hardware.

The No. 2-seeded Dukes beat top seed, University of Pittsburgh, 5-1 Sunday in the championship game at the JMU Softball Complex — only two days removed from a 3-1 loss to the Panthers in opening round play.

"It was a similar game in that we had the lead for the first three or four innings," JMU softball coach Katie Flynn said of Friday’s contest. "And we just didn’t hit the rest of the game, and then our defense kicked the ball around a little bit."

Sunday, it was a different story.

JMU (12-12) took a 3-0 lead in the first inning after sophomore shortstop Katie George doubled in senior Katie Jaworski with two outs to put the Dukes up 1-0. Then junior first baseman Megan Smith knocked in Katie George and senior Liz George with a single down the right field line that gave JMU the 3-0 advantage.

Smith finished the game 1 for 3 with two runs batted in. "I always say to myself, see the ball, hit the ball," Smith said. "So I just go up there and take my hacks."

Katie George went 2 for 3, adding a single to her double, a run scored and two RBIs — the second of which came on a squeeze play that scored senior left fielder Natalie Burd from third. It put the Dukes on top by 4-1. JMU tacked on their final run courtesy of a wild pitch that scored Jaworksi.

"We wanted to put pressure on them," Flynn said of the squeeze play. "We’ve done it two, three times this year and Katie George is one of our best bunters."

Pitt’s lone run came in the bottom of the second on an RBI single. The rest of the Panther offense was held in check by starting pitcher Liz George.

The left-hander went all seven innings, striking out three and scattering five hits, while improving her overall record to 6-2.

In the Invitational, Liz George went 3-0 in 16 innings of work. She struck out four, gave up nine hits and tossed two complete games. The Dukes went 4-1.

"This year, we have stronger and fresher arms," Liz George said. "The games aren’t all on one pitcher. Renee’ [Bounds] has come in and taken the pressure off of me and Brie [Carrera]."

Bounds, a sophomore right-hander picked up the win in Saturday’s tournament game against Morgan State. She threw a one-hitter in an abbreviated five-inning game in which the Dukes slaughter-ruled the Lady Bears 13-0.

With Sunday’s win, JMU has won six out of seven games, pushing its record to .500 after losing six in a row between Feb. 19 and March 6.

"I think we always had the intensity and attitude to win," Katie George said. "But we just had to get the kinks out — the small parts of the game, like getting bunts down."

At the time, the Dukes had yet to play a home game.

"We’re really happy to be home," Liz George said. "We’ve been on the road for the last month. It’s good to finally sleep in our own beds and have our home fans."

After a trip to Liberty University Wednesday, JMU opens up Colonial Athletic Association play Saturday, when Towson University visits the Complex for a doubleheader. The first game starts at noon.

"We’ve stayed patient and positive," Flynn said. "And it’s all paying off because we’re playing our best ball going into CAA play."