James Madison Smashes Records To Take Home Fifth CAA Title
CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | HIGHLIGHTS | POSTGAME INTERVIEWS | PHOTO GALLERY
HARRISONBURG, Va. (May 10, 2019) – Top-seeded James Madison smashed five home runs in a 12-0 victory over No. 2 Elon in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Softball Championship title game at Veterans Memorial Park.
James Madison (47-7) takes home its fifth CAA title and its third in the last four years. The Dukes earn the CAA’s automatic bid to the NCAA Softball Tournament and will find out where they are headed during the NCAA Selection Show on Sunday, May 12 at 9 p.m. James Madison does have a chance to be chosen as an NCAA Regional site.
Elon closes its season with a 33-20-1 record. Elon made history this season, earning its first-ever bid to the CAA Championship title game.
James Madison broke the CAA Tournament game record with five home runs in the contest. The Dukes’ 12 runs also set a new record for most runs scored in the CAA Championship game. James Madison’s 10 home runs for the tournament set a new CAA Tournament record, as well. The Dukes set the CAA Tournament record for batting average (.456), slugging percentage (.956), and on base percentage (.589). The Dukes allowed just one run all tournament, tied for the fewest in the tournament all-time. The 33 total runs by the Dukes is the most runs in three games during the CAA Tournament.
Sara Jubas hit two home runs, while Victoria Figueroa, Hannah File, and Madison Naujokas each tallied one. Jubas finished the tournament with three home runs, just one short of the CAA Tournament record. She also set the CAA Tournament record for slugging percentage with 2.400.
The Dukes jumped out to a hot start in the first inning, as File led off with a home run to put JMU up 1-0. James Madison loaded the bases, then Jubas walked to bring in another run to make it 2-0. Victoria Figueroa then came in to pinch hit and hit a grand slam on the first pitch she saw to give the Dukes a up 6-0. Naujokas followed up with a home run of her own to push James Madison’s lead to seven.
Jubas hit one of her two home runs in the second to drive in three runs and followed that blast up with a two-run home run in the third inning to put James Madison up 12-0.
Odicci Alexander tossed her second shutout of the CAA Tournament, allowing just one-hit across five innings of work. She moved to 22-1 on the season. Alexander was named the CAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player after pitching 10 innings, allowing no runs on just three hits. She tied the record for lowest ERA in the CAA Tournament and tied the record for shutouts. She also went 4-for-8 in the tournament, hitting two doubles, scoring three runs, and driving in four RBI.
Erica Serafini was the only Elon batter to get a hit in the game, going 1-for-2 with a double. Abby Barker started for the Phoenix, but went just 0.2 innings after allowing seven runs in the first inning.
2019 CAA Softball All-Tournament Team
Odicci Alexander, James Madison (Most Outstanding Player)
Megan Good, James Madison
Kate Gordon, James Madison
Sara Jubas, James Madison
Abby Barker, Elon
Ally Repko, Elon
Megan White, Elon
Sarah Clinton, Drexel
Linda Rush, Drexel
Madi Brown, College of Charleston
Dexlie Inman, College of Charleston