The JMU Softball Dukes put up quite a fight, but ran into a really good hitting team in the Hofstra Pride at the CAA Softball Tournament that concluded on Friday, losing 7-4. The Pride hit homeruns with runners in scoring position at the most crucial times. JMU’s pitching duo of Odicci Alexander and Payton Buresch couldn’t fool the Pride in the middle innings in their Day 2 match up, or on Day 3, in the Championship game. JMU’s pitchers did make some plays along the way, so this isn’t to say that they didn’t do their jobs.
Alexander and Kate Gordon each hit home runs in the top of the 7th Friday to slash the lead to 3 runs. The Dukes finished the 3 day tournament with 10 home runs, the most of the event. Senior Morgan Tolle finished with 9 hits, and led most every category going into the Championship game. Tolle was moved to tears when I asked her what her time at JMU meant, and she said “I’m just sorry we didn’t get to go out the way we wanted”. Senior Alyssa Buddle expressed “pride” in this team who faced such adversity, which started when now former Head Coach Mickey Dean left in September for the job at Auburn. Former assistant Loren LaPorte was named the head coach on a one year contract. Then the Dukes lost arguably the best player in the country in Megan Goode. That injury came in the fall as well. As the season began to develop, JMU Softball lost 3 players according to Coach LaPorte that would have been key contributors to this team. That’s not to make excuses for losing the CAA Championship, that’s to spotlight what this team did, winning 42 games and a regular season championship.
Tolle says she told the returning players to watch the Hofstra celebration on the field at Veterans Memorial Park, and remember that for next year.
So, now The Dukes wait to see if they get an at large bid for the NCAA Tournament. The selection show is Sunday night at 10pm on ESPN-2.
