HARRISONBURG, Va. – A walk-off single by sophomore Jessica Mrozek clinched the 3-2 win for No. 7 James Madison softball over No. 10 LSU Friday afternoon, giving the Dukes a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series in the Harrisonburg Super Regional.
Mrozek's single to right field scored sophomore infielder MorganTolle, who had reached base on a bunted single. Senior Erica Field and Tolle led off the bottom of the seventh with back-to-back infield singles and moved to second and third with one out thanks to a grounder by sophomore Megan Good. Freshman Jenny Behan drew a one-out walk to load the bases.
Good, who took the mound in the fourth inning, allowed just one hit for one run over four innings of work. At the plate, she went 2-for-4 with a pair of home runs, tying a career best to bring the Dukes back from a one-run deficit in both the third and fifth innings.
The Dukes (50-4) and Tigers (48-16) will battle in game two of the Super Regional on Saturday at noon.
MROZEK = CLUTCH
Mrozek has notched a hit in every one of James Madison's NCAA postseason games with six RBIs, highlighted by today's walk-off single.
SOLID ROOKIE
In her second plate appearance of the NCAA Tournament, freshman infielder Jenny Behan drew a crucial walk to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the seventh, setting the stage for Mrozek's heroics. Behan also recorded nine putouts at first base.
NOTEWORTHY NUMBERS
JMU remains undefeated at Veterans Memorial Park this season with a 18-0 record. They also moved to 17-0 on the season in games where they have hit two or more home runs.
With two strikeouts in the first from Ford, the Dukes' pitching staff recorded their 400th collective strikeout of the season.
As only a sophomore, Megan Good is now tied for second on the JMU all-time career wins list with a 61-5 record.