CHARLESTON, S.C. – Payton Lemire limited James Madison to five hits, and the Cougars put up four runs in the fifth in a 4-1 victory over the Dukes in the opening game of a CAA series at Patriots Point. 

 

Lemire struck out four in her second straight complete game win and help Charleston snap a 12-game losing streak to JMU. She allowed just a single unearned run in the third and got the final out on a fly ball to right with the tie run at the plate. 

 

The Cougars trailed 1-0 in the bottom of the fifth and had a runner on second with one out when the turning point of the game arrived. Kayla Gutierrez struck out but was able to reach first on a wild pitch as Natalie Windham stole third. 

 

Charleston took advantage of the break, with a squeeze bunt by Jenna Carter scoring Windham to tie it up. Payton Wade put the Cougars in front to stay with a sacrifice fly, and RBI singles by Mia Dittoe and Shealyn Starks capped the decisive inning. 

 

The Cougar defense played a huge part in the win. Following a leadoff walk in the second, Dittoe threw out a runner trying to advance to third on a single to right. Two force plays, including one at the plate, ended a threat after JMU loaded the bases in the fourth, and a perfectly executed rundown erased a runner in the fifth. 

 

The teams wrap up their series with a noon doubleheader on Saturday.