HARRISONBURG, Va. (JMU Athletics) – Coastal Carolina utilized a seven-run fourth inning to down James Madison, 12-3, in Sun Belt Conference softball action on Saturday afternoon at Bank of the James Field at Veterans Memorial Park.
The Chanticleers (16-14, 4-1 Sun Belt) earned the series victory after producing 10 hits and scoring 10 of 12 runs in the third and fourth innings.
McKennah Metzger went 3-for-4 with three home runs and seven RBI to lead the CCU offense. Georgia Hood also added a homer, going 2-for-3 from the plate.
JMU (14-14, 2-3 Sun Belt) managed just four total hits on the afternoon and draw eight walks, highlighted by an Emma Jo Evans RBI double in the fifth.
Mackenzie Childers earned her second win of the season after conceding three runs and two hits with eight walks in four and two thirds innings. For JMU, Taylor Johnson took the loss after allowing seven runs and seven hits with three walks and four strikeouts in five innings of work.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• Metzger hit her first of three home runs in the third, as she launched a three-run shot to center to give Coastal a 3-0 lead.
• The Dukes answered in the bottom half, as Bella Henzler delivered an RBI single to right, scoring Madison Edwards to cut the deficit to 3-1.
• The game turned in the fourth, as Coastal erupted for seven runs. After back-to-back RBI walks, Hood hit a two-RBI single and Metzger followed with another three-run homer to extend CCU’s lead to 10-1.
• Kylee Gleason got a run back for JMU in the bottom of the fourth, scoring Evans on a groundout, while Evans hit her RBI double in the fifth to make it 10-3.
• Coastal continued to add on, as both Hood and Metzger hit solo home runs in the sixth to close the scoring.
UP NEXT:
JMU closes the home conference series with Coastal Carolina on Sunday, March 22 with a noon start at Veterans Memorial Park.
— JMU Athletics —
