Dukes Close Weekend Sweep with 4-1 Win Over OSU

Sunday, February 21

Clearwater, Fla.

9 a.m.

James Madison University

9-1

Oklahoma State

4-6

James Madison

Oklahoma State

2/21/2016 12:19:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

CLEARWATER, Fla. - James Madison closed out a 5-0 weekend with a 4-1 win over Oklahoma State Sunday morning at the Michele Smith Pediatric Cancer Foundation Invitational in Clearwater, Fla. JMU improved to 9-1 on the season, while the Cowboys dropped to 4-6.

Two Dukes recorded three hits in the win as senior catcher Erica Field went 3-for-4, while sophomore infielder Morgan Tolle went 3-for-3 with one RBI and a run.

Sophomore pitcher Megan Good (5-1) earned the win in the circle after giving up one run and four hits, to go with six strikeouts in her 5 1/3 innings of work. Senior pitcher Jailyn Ford (4-0) picked up her first save of the season after throwing the final 1 and 2/3 innings and not allowing a single hit.

After four scoreless innings, junior utility Niki Prince reached base on a misplayed pop-up between the shortstop and third baseman. Junior infielder Madyson Moran drove Prince home from second with a RBI single up the middle and later scored the eventual game-winning run on a Tolle single to left field, putting the Dukes ahead 2-0.

OSU answered back in the sixth with a lead-off home run to close the deficit to one run before Ford took over pitching duties in relief.

Field kicked off a two-run inning with a double to center in the top of the seventh. Junior outfielder Taylor Newton plated a pair of runs on a hard hit grounder to second, extending the lead to 4-1.

The Dukes' defense closed the door in the seventh and Ford ended the game by striking out the Cowboy batter looking.

QUOTING HEAD COACH MICKEY DEAN
"We knew that was going to be a tough game because OSU has really started swinging the bats well.I thought Megan did a good job of keeping the Oklahoma State bats silent until our offense was able to get in gear. I am proud of the team for sticking with it and grinding out a tough win."

PLAY OF THE GAME
Junior Taylor Newton made a diving catch in right field in the bottom of the sixth ending OSU's only scoring inning.

INTERVIEW WITH MICHELE SMITH

PHOTO OF THE DAY

TWEET OF THE DAY

@JMU_Softball & @CowgirlSB putting on a great game! #JMUDukes #okstate
— TCRS Staff (@TCRShow) February 21, 2016

WEEKEND WRAP UP
JMU racked up 35 runs on the weekend while holding their opponents,two of which were nationally ranked, to just eight.

Senior Erica Field recorded a hit in all five games this weekend tallying a .692 average with nine hits in 13 at bats. Three of her nine hits were doubles and she recorded three RBIs paired with a 1.077 slugging percentage.

Pitchers Good and Ford only gave up 13 hits and in 31 2/3 innings pitched holding their opponents to a .116 batting average.

MICHELE SMITH INVITE RESULTS
JMU - 9 vs. #12 Tenn - 0 (5 innings)
JMU - 8 vs. DePaul - 1
JMU - 11 vs. Fordham - 4
JMU - 3 vs. #3 Auburn - 2
JMU - 4 vs. Oklahoma State - 1