No. 13 JMU Homers Twice in 9-1 Victory at UCF

Wednesday, March 8

Orlando, FL

3 p.m.

James Madison University

17-3

UCF

10-7

James Madison

UCF

3/8/2017 5:12:00 PM | Softball

Box Score @JMU_Softball Box Score 2017 Schedule 2017 Statistics

ORLANDO, Fla. – No. 13/14 James Madison softball (17-3) plated five runs off two home runs as the Dukes knocked off UCF 9-1 in six innings Wednesday inside the UCF Softball Complex.

Pitcher Megan Good led JMU at the plate going 2-for-3 with a walk, four RBIs and two runs scored. Good drove in the game-winning run off a two-run homer in the first inning. Freshman Odicci Alexander went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run. Senior right fielder Taylor Newton recorded her second consecutive multi-hit game after a 2-for-4 day at the plate with a RBI.

Good improve to 12-0 in the circle after pitching five scoreless innings against the Knights (10-7). The right-hander allowed just two hits with one strikeout. Good has now dealt 57.2 consecutive scoreless innings. Alexander pitch the final inning in relief allowing one run off two hits while striking out one Knight.

The Dukes got on the board early with Good's two-run homer in the first inning to score left fielder Cambry Arnold, who reached on an infield single. First baseman Morgan Tolle led off the top of the fifth with a single up the middle before Good drew a one-out walk to put two Dukes on ahead of Newton. Newton singled up the middle to plate a run before Alexander homered to deep center to push JMU's lead to 6-0.

JMU loaded the bases in the top of the sixth after a bunt from second baseman Madison Naujokas, a single from Tolle and a walk from pinch hitter Natalie Cutright. A pass ball allowed Naujokas to score before Good cleared the bases with a single up the middle to give JMU a 9-0 advantage.

UCF's lone run came in the bottom of the sixth as Tamesha Glover knocked a solo home run to left field.

QUOTING COACH DEAN
"With the weather back home and knowing what is going on, I thought we did a pretty nice job coming out today and being ready. We weren't focusing on what is coming up the next couple days. Megan [Good] did a nice job attacking the hitters. She forced them to put the ball in play early in the count, which made for some short innings. The home run was my fault. We were trying to surprise the hitter, but instead she surprised us. Odicci [Alexander] did a nice job in relief, so I will take the blame for the home run. Defensively, we were very good. I am proud of the way they came out today.

THE STREAK CONTINUES
With her ninth consecutive shutout appearance, Good extends her scoreless streak to 57.2 straight innings. Over her 12 starts to open her junior campaign, Good has tossed eight shutouts while combining for two additional shutouts. She holds a 0.18 ERA over 77.0 innings and has struck out a total of 104 batters this season.

RAINING THREES
Freshman Odicci Alexander leads all Dukes with three home runs over her debut season. All three of Alexander's home runs have been three-run shots. She leads all freshmen and ranks fourth on the team with 13 RBIs.

CHASING JAILYN
With today's victory, Megan Good notched her 73rd career victory in the circle. Good ranks second all-time in career victories at James Madison. The junior is now just nine games from tying JMU great Jailyn Ford for the program record of 82 victories.

UP NEXT
Due to inclement weather, James Madison's weekend slate has been moved from Harrisonburg to Greenville, N.C. on the campus of ECU. The Dukes will open a four-game tournament on Friday, March 10 by facing (RV) Pittsburgh at 11 a.m. before taking on the host Pirates at 1:30 p.m.