JMU softball’s sophomore catcher, Bella Henzler, has become a leader for the Dukes. So far during her second year on the team, Henzler has nine home runs and is batting .358. Her teammates see her as a “natural leader.”
JMU softball (26-16) finished the day with two wins after beating Longwood (14-27) 10-7 in the first game and 8-2 in the latter game. This game was the first doubleheader for the Dukes in over a month. Next, JMU will travel to App State for a three game series starting Friday at 5 p.m.
JMU softball (24-16, 8-7 Sun Belt) beat Marshall (20-21, 6-9 Sun Belt) 11-3 to sweep the three game series. The Dukes won in five innings due to the run rule.
JMU softball (23-16, 7-7 Sun Belt Conference) beat Marshall (20-20, 6-8) 7-5 on Saturday. This marks the Dukes second series win of the year. The last game of the series will be played on Sunday at noon.
JMU softball (22-16, 6-7 Sun Belt) beat Marshall (20-19, 6-7) 8-7 on a walk off from a Thundering Herd error in the first game of a three-game series. JMU and Marshall will play the second game of the series on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Payton List redshirted her first year of college softball at Virginia Tech before transferring to JMU. Now, as a redshirt freshman pitcher, List has pitched the most innings out of the Dukes pitching staff. List has embraced the workload and role she has taken on for JMU.
JMU softball (21-16) went 0-3 in a three-game series at No. 24 Louisiana (27-13). The Dukes lost by scores of 3-5, 1-7 and 2-9. Next, JMU will travel back home for a three-game series against Marshall, starting on Friday at 4 p.m.
JMU softball (21-13) completed the sweep against Georgia State (9-23) with a 8-1 victory in game three. The Dukes were led by freshman pitcher Kirsten Fleet, who pitched a complete game and allowed just four hits and one run. JMU will travel to Louisiana for a three-game series starting April 5.
JMU softball improved to (20-13) beat Georgia State (9-23) 6-1 to take the second game of a three-game series. The Dukes and Panthers will finish the series on Saturday at noon as the Dukes look to sweep the series.
JMU softball moved to 19-3 (3-4 Sun Belt) after a 12-6 win over Georgia State 9-22 (1-6) — ending a 3-game losing skid. JMU will finish its series with Georgia State with two more games on Friday and Saturday at Memorial Park.
JMU softball fell to 18-13 after losing 12-3 to U.Va. (22-10). The six inning matchup was called early due to the run-rule. The Cavaliers were led by junior third baseman Shelby Barbee, who hit a three-run home run in the second inning. The Dukes start a three-game series at home against Georgia State on Thursday at 4 p.m. The Cavaliers will play a two-game set at Villanova starting Friday at 4:30 p.m.
JMU softball (16-7) beat Binghamton (11-7) in five innings 9-1 and St. Joseph’s (6-13) 16-5 in five on Sunday. The Dukes open its series against Texas State on Friday at 3 p.m.
JMU softball (14-7) swept a doubleheader in the Weiler Orthodontics Tournament on Friday, beating Binghamton in five innings 9-1 and Radford 9-2. The Dukes will return to the field on Sunday for another doubleheader, facing Binghamton (11-5) at 12:30 p.m. and St. Joseph’s at 3 p.m.
JMU softball went 2-3 at the Gamecock Invitational from Friday to Sunday and moved to 10-4 overall. Up next, the Dukes travel to Tempe, Arizona, to play in the ASU Invitational, first against Omaha on Friday at 4 p.m.
JMU softball (8-1) swept its second doubleheader in three days on Sunday, going 4-0 in the Weiler Orthodontics Invitational. Next, the Dukes head to Columbia, South Carolina, to compete in the Gamecock Invitational, starting with a matchup against Charlotte on Friday at 12:30 p.m.
JMU softball stayed home for the Weiler Orthodontics Invitational on Friday, starting its slate with wins over Villanova and Lehigh in a doubleheader.
After finishing sixth in the Sun Belt last season (28-19, 13-11 Sun Belt), JMU softball is hoping to improve this upcoming season. Staff writer Preston Comer breaks down what to expect from the Dukes in 2024.
Sophomore second baseman KK Mathis made her impact known during her freshman season. This spring, she’s hoping to top it in the hopes of one day becoming an all-American for the Dukes.
JMU Sports Network will be utilizing a brand new control room inside the Atlantic Union Bank Center (AUBC) for their broadcasts this year. The control room will not only improve the quality of broadcasts, but provide students with opportunities to use top of the industry equipment.
JMU President Jonathan Alger and Director of Athletics Jeff Bourne spoke to The Breeze about the first year of the "Dukes Do Better" initiative, and how the department hopes to make the message stick as the attendance grows.
No. 6-seeded JMU softball lost its final game of the season in the Sun Belt Conference tournament to No. 3-seeded South Alabama in the quarterfinals, 4-1. The Dukes finished with an overall record of 28-19 (13-11 Sun Belt).
JMU softball lost the first two games of its three-game conference series to Texas State Thursday and Friday night, 2-0 and 8-2. The Dukes and Bobcats face again for game three Saturday night at 1 p.m.
Having two home runs, graduate first baseman Hannah Shifflett helped JMU softball sweep Appalachian State on its senior day double header, 6-2 and 8-5. On Saturday, Shifflett tied former JMU pitcher Odicci Alexander for the fourth most home runs hit in program history.
JMU softball defeated App State 2-0 on Friday in game one of its three-game series. The Dukes and Mountaineers will meet again tomorrow for game two starting at 1 p.m.
JMU softball went 1-1 in its final two conference series game against Marshall this past weekend. The Dukes redeemed their Friday night 10-2 loss by defeating the Herd 7-6 on Saturday but fell again 8-4 on Sunday.
JMU softball fell to Marshall 10-2 in game one of its three-game series on Friday. The Dukes will face the Herd in game two on Saturday at 1 p.m.
JMU softball fell to U.Va. 10-2 on Tuesday in six innings, but KK Mathis provided a bright spot for the Dukes, scoring one run and earning one RBI. The Dukes (23-14, 8-7 Sun Belt) will continue their road trip this weekend when they head to Marshall for a three-game series starting on Friday at 1 p.m.
JMU softball took its series over Troy this weekend, 2-1 overall after redeeming its 9-8 Friday night loss with wins on Saturday, 4-0 and Sunday, 10-7. The Dukes are now looking ahead to their midweek game against U. Va. on Tuesday April 18 at 6 p.m.
In the attempt of a comeback, JMU softball fell short in its first game of its two-game series against Troy, 9-8. The Dukes will be back at Veteran's Memorial Park at 10 a.m. for game two.
JMU softball lost its conference series finale against Georgia State, 3-1 on April 7. The Dukes fell to 21-12 (6-6 Sun Belt) over the weekend and are now looking ahead to their conference series against Troy starting on Friday April 14 at 4 p.m.
JMU softball split its doubleheader against Georgia State on Thursday, losing the first game 6-4 before winning the second 9-0. The Dukes will finish their series against the Panthers on Friday at 11 a.m.
With JMU sophomore pitchers Rebecca Muh and Lexi Rogers injured, junior pitcher Alissa Humphrey and freshman pitcher Kylah Berry have become the team's primary pitchers. Sports Editor Kaiden Bridges talked to softball head coach Loren LaPorte along with Humphrey and Berry to hear more about how they're working with the thinner pitching staff.
JMU softball dropped the third game of its series against No. 25 Louisiana, 6-2. The Dukes went 0-3 in the series and are now looking ahead to their series against Georgia State who they play next weekend.
JMU softball lost 9-2 against Louisiana on Saturday, losing the three-game series. The two teams will play one more time tomorrow at 3 p.m.
JMU softball lost the first game of its series against Louisiana, 8-4 in extra innings. The Dukes gear up to play the Ragin' Cajuns again Saturday at noon.
JMU softball plans to test No. 25 Louisiana this weekend in conference series. most recently the Dukes swept Georgia Southern in this series last weekend, 3-0.
JMU softball swept its series against Georgia Southern this past weekend, 3-0. The Dukes move to 20-7 (5-1 Sun Belt) are now looking ahead to their series against Louisiana this coming weekend.
JMU sophomore infielder Jasmine Hall earned five RBIs, including a walk-off double that gave the Dukes a 6-5 win against Georgia Southern in extra innings Saturday. The Dukes and Eagles play for a third and final time Sunday at noon, with JMU hoping to secure its first-ever Sun Belt Conference series sweep.
JMU softball outlasted Georgia Southern, 12-7, in an offense-heavy matchup on Friday, the first of a three-game series between the Dukes (18-7, 3-1 Sun Belt) and Eagles. They play again Saturday at 2 p.m.
JMU softball swept their doubleheader against George Mason on Wednesday, due in part to go-ahead RBI hits in both game from freshman infielder KK Mathis. The Dukes (17-7, 2-1 Sun Belt) will stay home to face Georgia Southern in a three game series, starting on Friday at 1 p.m.
JMU softball went 2-1 in its first Sun Belt Conference series against Coastal Carolina over the weekend in Conway, South Carolina. The Dukes are now 15-7 (2-1 Sun Belt) and play George Mason in their doubleheader on Wednesday at 3 and 5 p.m.
JMU fell to No. 16 Duke on the road Wednesday, 5-0. The Dukes, now 13-6, gear up for their first conference series starting Friday against Coastal Carolina.
Junior pitcher Alissa Humphrey's no-hitter propelled JMU softball past Fairleigh Dickinson 8-0 in five innings on Saturday. The Dukes will finish their time in the LD & B Insurance Invitational with a game against Radford tomorrow at 5 p.m.
JMU defeated Coppin State 9-2 on Friday to improve to 12-5 this season. The Dukes continue their time in the LD & B Insurance Invitational with a game against Fairleigh Dickinson tomorrow at 2:30 p.m.
JMU softball defeated Saint Joseph's, 6-2, on Thursday in the first game of the LD&B Insurance Invitational. The Dukes are now 11-5 and will face Coppin State on Friday.
On their final day of the Carolina Classic tournament in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, JMU softball split its day again, going 1-1 after another loss to Purdue, 5-3, but another win over UNC Chapel Hill, 6-5.
JMU softball went 1-1 today after a loss to Purdue, 4-0, and a win over Chapel Hill 7-1 in Chapel Hill, NC, at the Carolina Classic tournament.
Junior pitcher Alissa Humphrey recorded 31 strikeouts last weekend, but her focus in the offseason wasn't just on her pitching — it was also on her mental health. Online Managing Editor Savannah Reger details how the pitcher's pivotal summer helped her regain focus heading into this season.
After a final high scoring win over North Carolina State University with a final score of 14-11, JMU softball went undefeated in the Wolfpack Classic and moved to 8-3 overall.
JMU softball is off and running in its 2023 campaign with a 3-3 start two weeks into the season. Staff writer Ryan McGowan previews what to look for from the Dukes this year and what's new from previous years.
JMU softball went 3-1 during the two-day Elon Phoenix Softball Invitational Feb. 18-19 and moved to 3-3 on the season after splitting its Sunday games. Next up for the Dukes is the Wolfpack Classic, which begins Feb. 24 with a game versus Penn at 10 a.m.
JMU softball dropped the first two games of its season Feb. 10 at the Charleston Invitational. The Dukes look to bounce back Feb. 11, first at 3 p.m. versus Chatanooga, who they lost to during day one of the tournament, 4-3.
JMU softball's home grew this offseason, with over two million dollars in stadium renovations. Staff writer Matthew Taddei details the new adds and how the team is already benefiting from them before first pitch.
JMU softball opens its season tomorrow at the College of Charleston, kicking off its nonconference tournament slate. Last season, pitching wasn't a constant and the staff fought mental battles. With new training and a new mindset, the team is ready to start strong.
JMU softball is sporting purple-heart No. 22s on the back of their batting helmets this season in honor of the late Dukes' catcher Lauren Bernett, who died last April. Head coach Loren LaPorte said JMU players have been coping in different ways since Bernett's death.
JMU graduate infielder Hannah Shifflett has already amassed many honors during her career as a Duke, but with one more year in heightened Sun Belt Conference competition, she's vying to make an All-American team. Staff writer Kaiden Bridges details Shifflett's softball life to this point, teammate camaraderie, cooking abilities and steady motivation throughout her time at JMU.
Mark and Kym Hilinski, the parents of Tyler Hilinski — a former Washington State quarterback who died by suicide in 2018 — came to JMU on Jan. 24 to give roughly their 150th Tyler Talk, in which they spread awareness about student-athlete mental health stigma and share Tyler's story. Sports Editor Grant Johnson spoke to the Hilinski parents to learn more about their mission and the atmosphere during their talk at JMU — the first time they've done a talk at a school this closely removed from a student-athlete suicide.
JMU recently hired Anthony Pass as its next associate athletic director for integrated health and sports performance, who started on the job Nov. 28, replacing Tom Kuster, who died in May. Sports Editor Grant Johnson sat down with Pass a few weeks into his new role to get a feel for his plans to bolster student-athlete mental health and well-being at JMU on the heels of the pandemic and not eight months removed from the death of JMU softball player Lauren Bernett.
JMU softball released its 2023 schedule earlier this week. Online Managing Editor Savannah Reger talked to head coach Lauren LaPorte about the method behind the scheduling, why there are fewer midweek games and the overall theme of the slate: balance.
JMU softball unveiled its 2023 season schedule Monday. The schedule includes four trips to North Carolina and the program's first full Sun Belt Conference slate.
There have been six student-athlete suicides since the beginning of March. After the death of JMU softball player Lauren Bernett on April 25, The Breeze wanted to shine a light on the stress, expectations and pressure student-athletes face. In the words of Lindsey Kilpatrick ('22), former UMass Lowell field hockey player, "they're struggling in silence."
Sports frequently connect different regions of the country together. This past week, it happened with multiple schools inside the Shenandoah Valley to honor JMU softball’s Lauren Bernett.
JMU softball announced Monday morning that the remainder of its 2022 season is canceled following the death of Lauren Bernett, per press release.
This upcoming season, all but four JMU sports are entering the Sun Belt Conference, meaning they’ll be playing against a whole new set of teams. For the school's old rivals, this means they’ll have to find someone else to pick on.
Coaches and teammates in and out of the JMU softball community remember the life and legacy of JMU sophomore catcher Lauren Bernett. She died Monday at 20 years old.
The rainfall echoed over the silence of Veterans Memorial Park as JMU student athletes from nearly every sport gathered in front of JMU softball’s gate. Flowers, T-shirts and balloons filled a small table as teammates stood with tears in their eyes.
UPDATE (4/27 11:10 a.m.): JMU softball has announced the cancelation of its home series against Delaware. Any further changes will be announced at a later date.
JMU softball completed the sweep of the weekend series against Drexel with an 11-4 win Sunday, extending its win streak to five.
JMU beat Drexel twice in its doubleheader Saturday with a 4-1 win in game one and a 10-1 run-rule victory in game two. The JMU-Drexel series concludes Sunday at noon in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Anyone who’s familiar with JMU softball notices two things about the Dukes this season: They’re young, and they’re still adapting to play at this stage.
JMU took both games in its doubleheader versus the College of Charleston (CoC) on Saturday, 8-2 then 11-2. JMU improves to 18-21 (7-5 CAA) while CoC falls to 9-30 (3-8 CAA).
JMU softball lost the first game of its series with College of Charleston (CoC) 4-1 on Friday. The Dukes have lost seven of their last eight games and are now 17-20 (5-5 CAA). The Cougars improved to 9-28 (3-6 CAA).
Harrisonburg Little League (HLL) held its annual opening-day ceremony for the spring 2022 season Sunday — its first since 2018. Former JMU softball outfielder Kate Short (formerly Gordon) threw the first pitch.
JMU softball went 2-1 in its first Sun Belt Conference series against Coastal Carolina over the weekend in Conway, South Carolina. The Dukes are now 15-7 (2-1 Sun Belt) and play George Mason in their doubleheader on Wednesday at 3 and 5 p.m.
JMU fell to No. 16 Duke on the road Wednesday, 5-0. The Dukes, now 13-6, gear up for their first conference series starting Friday against Coastal Carolina.
Junior pitcher Alissa Humphrey's no-hitter propelled JMU softball past Fairleigh Dickinson 8-0 in five innings on Saturday. The Dukes will finish their time in the LD & B Insurance Invitational with a game against Radford tomorrow at 5 p.m.
JMU defeated Coppin State 9-2 on Friday to improve to 12-5 this season. The Dukes continue their time in the LD & B Insurance Invitational with a game against Fairleigh Dickinson tomorrow at 2:30 p.m.
JMU softball defeated Saint Joseph's, 6-2, on Thursday in the first game of the LD&B Insurance Invitational. The Dukes are now 11-5 and will face Coppin State on Friday.
On their final day of the Carolina Classic tournament in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, JMU softball split its day again, going 1-1 after another loss to Purdue, 5-3, but another win over UNC Chapel Hill, 6-5.
JMU softball went 1-1 today after a loss to Purdue, 4-0, and a win over Chapel Hill 7-1 in Chapel Hill, NC, at the Carolina Classic tournament.
Junior pitcher Alissa Humphrey recorded 31 strikeouts last weekend, but her focus in the offseason wasn't just on her pitching — it was also on her mental health. Online Managing Editor Savannah Reger details how the pitcher's pivotal summer helped her regain focus heading into this season.
After a final high scoring win over North Carolina State University with a final score of 14-11, JMU softball went undefeated in the Wolfpack Classic and moved to 8-3 overall.
JMU softball is off and running in its 2023 campaign with a 3-3 start two weeks into the season. Staff writer Ryan McGowan previews what to look for from the Dukes this year and what's new from previous years.