CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (JMU Athletics) – James Madison softball scored four run in the top of the seventh, coming back from a three-run deficit to knock off No. 23 Virginia, 9-7, in a midweek thriller on Tuesday evening at Palmer Park.
JMU (22-22) used a balanced offensive attack to tally 12 hits, while Virginia (33-11) suffered its first loss to the Dukes since 2021.
Payton List led the way for the Dukes, going 3-for-4 with two homers, two runs scored and four RBIs to tie her career high in hits and season high in runs scored. Three other Dukes produced multi-hit performances that include Kylee Gleason (2-for-5), Emily LeGrand (2-for-3) and Cali Legzdin (2-for-3), with respective hits from Kira Ortega and Bella Henzler tying the game and taking the lead in the ninth.
In the circle, Allie Braly (2-1) earned the win in relief by tossing 3.1 scoreless innings while allowing just one walk.
How It Happened:
• The Dukes jumped out to a fast start, scoring the first run of the game in the first inning on a Kendra Lewis single before List lifted a three-run homer to give them a 4-0 lead before an out was recorded.
• Virginia responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first and then made it a one-run game after scoring a run in the third.
• The Hoos erupted for four runs in the fourth to take a 7-4 lead, highlighted by back-to-back homers to cap the scoring.
• List hit her second homer of the game the next half inning, a solo shot to cut the deficit to two.
• JMU found its moment to strike, loading the bases with one out in the seventh. The Dukes then used three consecutive singles from Legzdin, Ortega and Henzler in that order to knock in a run each, with Ortega’s single tying the game and Henzler’s infield hit putting JMU ahead.
• Emma Jo Evans drew a bases-loaded walk to force in an insurance run, giving JMU a 9-7 lead.
• Down to its last three outs, UVA was retired in order by Braly to capture JMU’s first ranked win since the 2021 Women’s College World Series. It was also JMU’s first win over an ACC opponent since 2023.
Up Next
JMU returns home to host Georgia State on April 24-26. The series opener on Friday is scheduled for a 5 p.m. first pitch.
— JMU Athletics —
