HARRISONBURG, Virginia – Junior Camryn Dean belted her first home run of the season, but it was not enough as UNCW dropped a 10-3 decision to No. 25 James Madison to open a three-game Colonial Athletic Association softball series at Veterans Memorial Park on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Seahawks, who saw their five-game win streak snapped, stand 13-19 overall and 7-6 in the CAA. James Madison, meanwhile, upped its record to 25-1 overall with a 12-1 mark against league foes.
 
James Madison erupted for nine runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 9-0 lead. Redshirt junior Logan Newton started the outburst with a solo home run to center field before redshirt freshman Emily Phillips and redshirt senior Kate Gordon added a pair of three-run home runs for a 7-0 advantage.
 
A sacrifice fly by Newton and a RBI single by redshirt junior Lynsey Meeks extended the cushion to 9-0.
 
After a Gordon sacrifice fly in the third inning gave the Dukes a 10-0 cushion, Dean ended the shutout bid by blasting a three-run shot to left center field in the top of the fifth inning. However, the Seahawks were unable to get any closer.
 
Redshirt senior Odicci Alexander earned the win in the circle for James Madison, scattering just two hits in 6.0 innings without giving up a run. She also registered seven strikeouts without a walk.
 
Graduate student Rylee Pate dropped to 2-8 on the season after giving up two runs on one hit in one-plus innings for the Seahawks.
 
Notes of Interest: James Madison has now won nine straight meetings against UNCW … Dean hit her first home run since Apr. 16, 2019, against Coastal Carolina … She also became the sixth different UNCW player to hit a home run this season … Juniors Janel Gamache and Logan Bjorson each extended their hitting streaks to six games … Freshman Tayler Vitola saw her seven-game hitting streak snapped after going 0-for-3 with a strikeout … UNCW has hit a home run in nine games this season, posting a 7-2 record in those outings.
 
Up Next: UNCW and James Madison complete their weekend series with a doubleheader on Sunday, Apr. 25, at noon. 

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