TROY, Ala. – The Coastal Carolina softball team edged the James Madison Dukes 3-2 to win the 2025 Sun Belt Conference Tournament on Saturday afternoon.
The win marks Coastal Carolina's first-ever Sun Belt Conference Tournament championship and its first tournament title since claiming the Big South crown in 2012.
The Dukes took an early lead in the top of the first inning when Payton List laced a leadoff triple down the right-field line, and Kylee Gleason brought her home with a groundout to second base, making the score 1-0.
The Chanticleers looked to even the score in the bottom of the frame when
Keirstin Roose crushed a double into deep right-center field, but the Dukes tagged out
Georgia Hood sliding into home plate to preserve their 1-0 lead.
James Madison applied pressure again in the top of the third inning, putting runners on base with a walk and a single from List. However, the Chants' defense held strong, stranding two runners to keep the score at 1-0.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Coastal capitalized on a leadoff double from Roose when freshman
McKennah Metzger launched a two-run home run over the center-field wall, pushing the Chants ahead 2-1.
The Dukes leveled the score in the top of the sixth inning when Cali Legzdin cracked an RBI double to left-center field, tying the game at 2-2.
After a 3 hour, 21 minute weather delay, play resumed with JMU at the plate and runners on first and third. The Chants kept their composure, recording the final out of the inning to maintain the deadlock.
Coastal sealed the victory in the bottom of the seventh when
Clara Hudgens and
Libby Pippin reached on consecutive singles, and
Delaney Keith drew a walk to load the bases. A wild pitch in the dirt then escaped the catchers grasp allowing Hudgens to race home and secure the 3-2 championship win.
With the win, the Chants secure an automatic bid to the 2025 NCAA Tournament, marking Coastal's seventh appearance in program history. CCU will now await its NCAA Regional assignment, which will be revealed during the ESPN Selection Show on May 11 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
2025 Sun Belt Softball Championship All-Tournament Team
Most Outstanding Player:
Nicolette Picone, Coastal Carolina
Delaney Keith, Coastal Carolina
McKennah Metzger, Coastal Carolina
Keirstin Roose, Coastal Carolina
Kirsten Fleet, James Madison
Kylee Gleason, James Madison
Cali Legzdin, James Madison
Meagan Brown, ULM
Dakota Lake, ULM
Sam Roe, Louisiana
For complete coverage of CCU softball, follow the Chanticleers on social media at @CoastalSoftball (X), @GoCCUSports (Instagram) and facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook), or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at GoCCUSports.com.
