TOWSON, Md. ? For the second straight game, Emily Gould's home run gave the Tigers a walk-off victory. This time it was a solo shot to give Towson (25-12, 8-4 CAA) a 2-1 win in the first game of the doubleheader on Sunday.
James Madison would score four runs in the sixth inning of game-two and posted a 6-0 victory, earning a split in the doubleheader.
“I am happy to earn a series win,” said Coach Lisa Costello. “Emily and Shannon Johnston came through for us in the first game and unfortunately our defensively struggles cost us in the second game.”
In the first game, the two teams headed to the bottom of the seventh tied at 1-1. James Madison was able to get the first two outs of the inning before Gould stepped to the plate. The senior launched a ball over the left center fence to extend the Tigers' win streak and give the team its fourth straight walk-off win.
Towson had jumped out to an early lead in the contest as the Tigers scored a single run in the bottom of the third. Andrea Stevenson led off the inning with a walk and stole second. After Kim Lempa sacrificed Stevenson to third, Gould stroked a single through the right side to score Stevenson. The Tigers would load the bases in the inning but were unable to plate another run.
James Madison tied the game in the top of the fifth. Brittney Dyson reached with one-out and moved to second. After the Dukes made the second out of the inning, Courtney Simons singled to score Dyson. That would be all the Dukes would get though, setting the stage for Gould's heroics.
Gould finished with three hits, two RBIs and a run scored for the Tigers. Simons and Amber Kirk had two hits apiece for the Dukes.
Johnston earned her 15th win of the year for the Tigers. She gave up one unearned run on seven hits while striking out six. Jenny Clohan took the loss for James Madison as she gave up two runs on six hits with five strikeouts.
In the second game, the first five innings belonged to pitchers Kelly Ebner and Meredith Felts. The pair combined to give up just six hits and allowed just eight base runners.
James Madison finally got something going against Ebner in the top of the sixth. Shannon Moxey singled leading off the frame and was replaced by pinch-runner Melissa Hill. Hill was sacrificed to second and stole third with one-out. Katie Spitzer singled to right field to give the visitors a 1-0 advantage. After Towson got the second out of the inning, an error by the Tigers allowed Clohan to reach and extend the inning. Michelle Clohan homered to left field to give James Madison a 4-0 advantage.
The Dukes would add to their lead in the top of the seventh. With one out, Simons and Moxey had back-to-back singles. Towson got the second out of the inning before a Tiger error allowed Spitzer to reach and load the bases. Ashley Burnham would double to right field, scoring two runs in the process.
The Tigers were held to just three hits in the game. Moxey had three hits for the Dukes while Burnham finished with two hits.
Felts earned the win for James Madison after giving up just three hits and striking out five. Ebner falls to 4-4 on the year after giving up six runs, one of which was earned, on 10 hits. She struck out four and walked no one.
The Tigers return to action on Thursday, April 16 when they visit Villanova for a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m.
