Game One Box | Game Two Box

RADFORD, Va. – A walk-off single by Lauren Williams in game two lifted Radford to a 2-1 victory over James Madison and earn a split, Wednesday from RU Softball Field. The Dukes (14-8) took game one, 5-4.

The Highlanders (14-9) put runners on first and second with one out, courtesy of back-to-back singles by Jessie Hutchens and Hannah Ojeda, setting up Williams' game-winning hit. She slapped Olivia McPherson's offering just over the second base bag and the ball rolled into shallow center, allowing pinch runner Morgan Eye to scoot home from second.

The comeback was made possible by another shutout relief outing from Jackie Jenkins. After allowing a inherited runner to score an unearned run on a sac fly in the third, she scattered four hits over the final five innings to improve to 5-0. She struck out two and did not walk a batter.

Nichole Beall and Hutchens each recorded two hits for the Highlanders.

Following JMU's run in the third, the Highlanders tied it up in the fourth on a run-scoring single by Taylor Cunningham.

The only trouble Jenkins got into was in the sixth as the Dukes put runners on first and third with one out. After catching Katie Spitzer looking, she induced JMU's best hitter, Ashley Burnham, to ground out to third on a 3-1 count and end the threat.

McPherson suffered the defeat in 2.1 innings of relief work. She allowed a run on three hits with a walk and a strikeout. Cara Stecher started for the Dukes and went the first four frames, surrendering a run on five hits with two walks and a strikeout.

A fifth inning three-run home run by Haley Johnson was the difference as James Madison won game one, 5-4.

Johnson finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. Brittany Jeans earned the complete game victory, allowing two earned runs on three hits with one strikeout and two walks.

JMU struck first with a run in the second on a one-out RBI single to left by Megan Shinaberry. Cunningham knotted the game for the Highlanders at 1-1 with a one-out solo blast to leftcenter, her first of the season.

The teams traded runs in the fourth. The Dukes tallied an unearned run with two outs in the top the fourth on a RBI single by Caitlin Sandy. The Highlanders tied it on a sac fly by Michelle Beall.

With one out in the fifth, Johnson followed back-to-back singles by Jasmine Butler and Caitlen Manning with a shot over the left field fence that broke a 2-2 deadlock and gave the Dukes a 5-2 lead.

The Highlanders took advantage of two JMU errors to cut their deficit to 5-4 in the sixth. In the seventh, Meredith Moore drew a two-out walk, but Jeans induced a pop out to end any Radford comeback.

Kellie Snooks, who entered with two outs in the fourth, suffered the loss. She surrendered three runs on four hits with one strikeout in 3.1 innings. Chelsea Kelley started and went the first 3.2 frames, allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits with a walk and strikeout.

Radford heads up the road to Troutville, Va. to host the Radford Invitational at the Botetourt Sports Complex from March 18-20. The Highlanders welcome Georgetown, Ball State, Delaware, Pittsburgh and Robert Morris and will open up play on Friday against the Panthers and Colonials at 3 and 5 pm, respectively.