HEMPSTEAD, N.Y., May 8, 2009 – Fourth-seeded JMU got a nine-run second inning and solid pitching from senior right-hander Meredith Felts (Greenville, N.C./J.H. Rose) as the Dukes won the 2009 Colonial Athletic Association Championship 11-1 over third-seeded Towson on Friday.  It is the first softball championship in the program’s eight-year history.

Madison put the game away early, attacking TU starter Shannon Johnston for seven runs, six of them earned, before the junior was lifted with one out in the second. 

JMU’s big second inning was opened with a double by junior center fielder Brittney Dyson (Waldorf, Md./Thomas Stone), who scored one batter later on a throwing error by the TU second baseman.  The Dukes kept up the attack, loading the bases on back-to-back singles by junior right fielder Courtney Simons (Richmond, Va./Deep Run) and senior third baseman Amber Kirk (Hamilton, Va./Loudoun County) before another Tiger error made it 3-0.  Sophomore designated player Katie Spitzer (Broadway, Va./Broadway) grounded into a fielder’s choice on the play, but the throw got away from shortstop Sammi DiPompo, allowing junior first baseman Shannon Moxey (Church Road, Va./Mills Godwin) to score.  Freshman shortstop Ashley Burnham (Danvers, Mass./Danvers) followed with a single to shallow left field to make it 4-0 and chase Johnston from the game.

Right-hander Dominique Ortega entered the game for the Tigers but was unable to get Towson out of the jam.  Senior catcher Julia Dominguez (Sterling, Va./Park View) walked with the bases still loaded to give Madison a 5-0 lead before a fielder’s choice and a single chased in two more JMU runs.  Moxey capped the inning with a three-run double down the right-field line to put Madison up 10-0.

Moxey finished the game 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI.

Felts handled the rest for JMU, pitching five innings of four-hit softball to pick up the win.  The senior allowed one run, walked one and struck out five to improve to 18-4 on the season and break her own school record for wins in a season.

Felts was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player and was joined on the all-tournament team by Kirk, Simons and junior left fielder Chel'sea Ryan (Sandston, Va./Henrico).

JMU took a one-run lead after the top of the first inning when Moxey led off the game with a walk and moved to second on a Simons sacrifice bunt.  Back-to-back singles by Kirk and Spitzer gave JMU the early 1-0 lead.

The Dukes reloaded the bases on a walk by Dominguez, but Johnston pitched her way out of the jam by inducing a foulout to the shortstop.

Johnston pitched the first 1.1 innings, allowing seven hits, seven runs, six of them earned, walking two and striking out one.  She took the loss to finish the season with a 22-10 record.

The Tigers got a run back in the bottom of the third as first baseman Andrea Stevenson scored to make it 10-1.  Stevenson led off the inning with a single, moved to second on a groundout and third on a foulout before DiPompo plated her with a single up the middle.

JMU tacked on a run in the fourth as Simons singled to center to score Ryan from second.  Ryan reached on a bunt single and went to second on a fielder’s choice by Moxey.

Eight different batters had hits for JMU, including two each from Moxey, Simons, Kirk, Spitzer and Ryan.  Burnham, Dyson and senior second baseman Kaitlyn Wernsing (Clemmons, N.C./West Forsyth) finished with one hit each, while Dominguez had two walks and an RBI.

Madison advances to play in the NCAA Regionals with the site and opponents to be determined on Sunday.  The selection show will air on ESPNU at 10 p.m. Sunday night.

NOTES:  JMU became the first team to win a CAA Championship other than Hofstra, ending HU runs of seven straight conference titles... This was the third conference championship for JMU this year, joining the field hockey and football Dukes... It was the second early-termination title game in the history of the CAA and the first since Hofstra defeated Towson 9-1 in 2002.

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