CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (JMU Athletics) – James Madison softball opened the 2026 season with a thrilling 4–3 win over Saint Joseph’s on Friday at Anderson Softball Stadium, throwing out the game-tying run at the plate to end the game.
At the plate, red-shirt junior Payton List and junior Kylee Gleason each registered two hits and a run scored, with Gleason adding a double. List also earned the save, pitching the final frame and working around a run allowed.
Junior Kirsten Fleet threw six innings of two-run ball to earn the win, striking out six. She allowed just one runner to reach third following the first inning.
How It Happened:
• Freshman PK Arredondo made her first start as a Duke count, doubling to right-center in the top of the first inning to score List from first base and give JMU an early 1–0 lead.
• Saint Joseph’s responded in the home half of the first with a two-run single from Meghan Sinkus to go ahead 2-1.
• In the fifth, Gleason doubled to center field, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a passed ball to tie the game at 2–2.
• JMU pulled ahead in the sixth as freshman Mia Tribul connected on a pinch-hit double to left-center to bring home red-shirt senior Morgan Mesaros.
• Junior Madison Edwards followed Tribul’s double with one of her own, scoring freshman Lisey St. Jean, who replace Tribul as a pinch runner, and extending the Dukes’ lead to 4–2.
• SJU put pressure on the Dukes in the seventh inning, putting the tying runs in scoring position with two outs. Sinkus connected on a single to drive in a run, but Edwards made a throw at home to get the final out to maintain the 4-3 lead.
Game Notes
• Six Dukes made their JMU debuts, with PK Arredondo, Emma Jo Evans and Lisey St. Jean earning starts.
• A quartet of Dukes recorded doubles on the day.
Up Next
The Dukes will take the field again at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 7 as they take on Elon to continue tournament play.
— JMU Athletics —
