No. 15 JMU Uses Six-Run Fifth to Run-Rule Binghamton 9-1

Friday, May 15

Harrisonburg, Va.

4:30 p.m.

James Madison University

48-8

Binghamton

24-20

Binghamton

James Madison

No. 15 JMU Uses Six-Run Fifth to Run-Rule Binghamton 9-1

5/15/2015 9:38:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison produced six runs in the fifth inning to run away with a 9-1 victory in five innings over Binghamton in game two of the NCAA Softball Championship Harrisonburg Regional on Friday evening at Veterans Memorial Park.

The 15th-seeded Dukes improved to 48-8 on the year and advanced to Saturday's winner's bracket game against NC State at 2 p.m., while the Bearcats fell to 24-20 and will face elimination versus Fordham at 4:30 p.m. In game one of the regional, The Wolfpack rallied past the Rams for a 12-5 triumph.

Madison poured on 14 hits while limiting BU to just three hits. Four Dukes produced multi-hit outings, led by sophomore outfielder Taylor Newton, who went 3-for-3 with three runs and a RBI. Freshman infielder Morgan Tolle was 2-2 for with a run, freshman pitcher Megan Good hit 2-for-3 with a RBI and walk while sophomore infielder Niki Prince went 2-for-4 with a RBI and run.

Good also earned the win in the circle, moving to 29-2 after giving up just one run on three hits and a walk. She also struck out five batters in her NCAA debut.

The Dukes took a 1-0 lead in the second inning after producing a pair of hits. With two outs and runners on the corners, JMU attempted a double steal and Binghamton bit on a throw to second, allowing Newton to score from third for the game's first run.

Following an 84-minute delay due to inclement weather, the Bearcats tied the game with one swing in the fourth as Lisa Cadogan hit her 11th home run of the season, a solo shot, deep to right center to square the game at 1-1.

The Dukes regained the lead in the bottom half, tacking on two runs off five hits for a 3-1 advantage. JMU went ahead 2-1 after freshman designated player Jessica Mrozek hit a RBI single up the middle, plating Newton for the second time. The Dukes came through with two outs again, as Prince collected her 100th career hit, a single to center, which scored sophomore infielder Madyson Moran from third.

Moving to the fifth, JMU produced six runs on six hits, with five runs coming with two outs. The Dukes advanced their lead to 4-1 after Newton doubled to center, scoring sophomore pinch runner Mimi Morris from second. Two batters later, Newton scored her third run of the ballgame off a throwing error at shortstop, which extended the frame.

After Mrozek came home off a single by sophomore outfielder Tahli Moore, junior catcher Erica Field smacked a single through the left side, scoring both Tolle and Moore, to make it 8-1. On the ensuing at-bat, Good clinched the game with a double to left center, scoring Prince for the run rule to take effect.

BU's Sarah Miller took the loss, dropping to 11-8, after surrendering three runs on nine hits and a walk. Cara Martin also pitched two-thirds of an inning, allowing seven runs (one earned), five hits and a walk.

Notes:
Friday's attendance was 1,053, which was the second-highest single-day attendance in JMU softball.

This was JMU's first-ever home NCAA regional game and the largest margin of victory for the Dukes in the NCAA Championship. JMU is now 3-6 all-time in the NCAA postseason.

Niki Prince became the 28th player in program history to reach 100 hits, joining teammates Erica Field, Jailyn Ford, Hannah Hayes and Taylor Newton as the five active players to achieve the milestone.