Offense Powers JMU Past Maine, 4-0, to Close out Weekend

Sunday, February 15

Jacksonville, Fla.

10 a.m.

James Madison University

3-2

Maine

1-4

James Madison

Maine

Offense Powers JMU Past Maine, 4-0, to Close out Weekend

2/15/2015 12:40:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - James Madison tallied a season-best 10 hits and won its third straight game in shutout fashion, 4-0, against Maine to close out its weekend at the Osprey Invitational on Sunday morning at the UNF Softball Complex.

Sophomore short stop Niki Prince went 3-for-4 with one run scored and an RBI for the Dukes (3-2) while freshman right fielder Megan Good hit the team's first home run of the season, going 2-for-3 from the plate. Sophomore center fielder Taylor Newton also had a multi-hit day, going 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Earning the victory in the circle was senior pitcher Heather Kiefer (1-1), who finished the day allowing five hits in 6.1 innings pitched. She also struck out two batters in the triumph. Good also came in to close out the game, striking out both batters she faced in the seventh.

Taking the loss for the Black Bears (1-4) was Molly Flowers (0-1) who allowed four runs (three earned) in 6.1 innings pitched. She also walked three while striking out four JMU batters.

The Dukes opened the scoring in the third inning after sophomore third baseman Madyson Moran drew a two-out walk. Prince followed that up with a double down the left field line and Moran came around from first to put JMU ahead 1-0.

The lead doubled to 2-0 in the fourth with another two-out run as Good took the two-out, 0-1 delivery out of the park with her first career home run. Two innings later, in the sixth, JMU tacked on another. With one away and a runner on, Newton doubled to right center and sophomore pinch runner Caitlin Viafora scored to make it 3-0.

JMU added more insurance in the top of the seventh. Prince led off the inning with a double, and two batters later, junior catcher Erica Field singled to right center and Prince came around for the game's final score. The Dukes threatened more by loading the bases but Annie Kennedy came into relief and struck out two in a row to get out of the jam.

The Black Bears biggest opportunity for runs came in the bottom half of the seventh when they loaded the bases with one out. Good was able to come in and close out the weekend by striking out back-to-back batters to give JMU its third straight shutout victory.

JMU returns to action Feb. 20-22 when it travels down to Tuscaloosa, Ala., for the 2015 Easton Bama Bash. The Dukes will face arguably its toughest competition of the season as they will take on top-10 powers Alabama and Michigan while also taking on 2014 NCAA participant Lipscomb.

Both games against Alabama will be seen nationally on ESPN3.