HARRISONBURG, Va. – The Coastal Carolina softball team defeated the James Madison Dukes, 16–8, in game one of the series on Friday afternoon in Harrisonburg, Va.

The Chanticleers got off to a quick start in the top of the first inning, scoring four runs on a Brie Normandin RBI single and a three-run home run by Kaelin Cash.

In the top of the second inning, Delaney Keith capitalized on two walks, smashing a three-run home run over the right-field wall to extend Coastal's lead to 7–0.

The Dukes got one run back in the bottom of the third inning when Emily LeCrand drove in Cali Legzdin with an RBI double, making the score 7–1.

Coastal loaded the bases in the top of the fourth inning on back-to-back singles by Clara Hudgens and Libby Pippin, along with a walk. Georgia Hood and McKennah Metzger each followed with deep fly balls, recording sacrifice flies to extend the lead to 9–1.

The Dukes responded in the bottom of the fifth inning, tallying five runs on a groundout and three RBI singles to narrow the gap to 9–6.

The Chants answered with a five-run inning of their own, highlighted by a two-run home run from Pippin and RBI singles from Metzger, Moira Baxter, and Izzy Ramirez to extend the lead to 14–6.

James Madison scored one run in the bottom of the sixth before Hood cracked a two-run shot over the left-field wall in the top of the seventh to make the score 16–7.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Dukes added one run on an RBI double by Kira Ortega, but Metzger retired the final three batters to secure the 16–8 victory for Coastal.

Abby Henderson improved to 6–8 on the season. She allowed three runs on four hits over 4.0 innings of work.

For complete coverage of CCU softball, follow the Chanticleers on social media at @CoastalSoftball (X), @GoCCUSports (Instagram), and Facebook.com/CCUChanticleers, or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at GoCCUSports.com.