Dukes Rally Past #20 UCF, 2-1, to Win UCF Spring Fling Tourney

Sunday, March 15

Orlando, Fla.

1:30 p.m.

James Madison University

17-6

UCF

26-5

James Madison

UCF

Dukes Rally Past #20 UCF, 2-1, to Win UCF Spring Fling Tourney

3/15/2015 5:45:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

ORLANDO, Fla. – James Madison produced a pair of runs with two outs in the sixth inning to rally past 20th-ranked UCF, 2-1, and claim the UCF Spring Fling Tournament title on Sunday afternoon at the UCF Softball Complex.

The Dukes improved to 17-6 on the season after capping off their week-long, seven-game road trip without a blemish. They have now won eight straight and 11 of their last 12 games. The Knights dropped to 26-5 and saw their 11-game win streak come to a close.

JMU fell behind 1-0 in the fifth on a solo home run to left by UCF's Samantha McCloskey but the Dukes responded in the sixth with a pair of two-out base hits, to give them the lead.

After freshman pinch hitter Jessica Mrozek led off the top half of the inning with a single, UCF picked up two quick outs, but sophomore utility Caitlin Viafora, pinch running for Mrozek moved to second. Sophomore shortstop Niki Prince, who had not produced a hit since Friday after having her hand stepped on, singled to center field, scoring Viafora to tie the game at 1-1.

On the ensuing at-bat, junior catcher Erica Field lined a hit up the middle and Prince took off for home, where she knocked the ball loose from the catcher as she slid into home plate, giving JMU a 2-1 lead.

UCF put a runner on in the sixth with one out, but junior first baseman Jailyn Ford came in to relieve freshman pitcher Megan Good, who had thrown 5.1 innings in the starting role. Ford retired the next two batter and sat three straight Knights down in order in the seventh, including a strikeout with two outs, to clinch the game.

Good completed the road trip by winning for the fourth time in the circle, improving to 9-0 on the year after allowing one run and three hits in her five-and-a-third innings. She also struck out three UCF batters while walking none. Ford came in to throw 1.2 innings and picked up her second save of the year after not allowing a single hit, to go with two strikeouts.

Field was the lone player on either team to record a multi-hit afternoon, going 2-for-3 with one RBI.

UCF's Shelby Turnier fell to 12-5 on the season after allowing two runs and six hits in 6.0 innings pitched. She also struck out eight JMU hitters in the defeat.

Ford was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player after going 2-0 with one save. Boasting a 0.00 ERA, she allowed just one hit and struck out 21 in her 12.1 innings pitched over three appearances. She also hit .333 (5-15) from the plate with a home run, two RBIs and five runs.

She was joined on the All-Tournament Team by teammates Good and Field.

Good went 3-0 with a 0.38 ERA after allowing just two runs (one earned) and 13 hits in her 18.1 innings pitched. She threw two complete games and struck out 19 opposing batters. From the plate, she batted .375 (6-16) with three RBIs and a run. Field hit .438 (7-16) from the plate with a home run, three RBIs and three runs in the weekend sweep.

The Dukes return home to face in-state foe Virginia on Wednesday, March 18 for a doubleheader at Veterans Memorial Park. The game was rescheduled from March 4 when weather forced a postponement. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. and admission is free.

2015 UCF Spring Fling All-Tournament Team
Jailyn Ford, James Madison, MVP
Megan Good, James Madison
Erica Field, James Madison
Kahley Novak, UCF
Farrah Sullivan, UCF
Kristen Boros, Butler
Kristin Gutierrez, Butler
Sammy Ruffolo, Fairfield
Lauren Filicia, Fairfield
Taylor Cairns, UIC
Eleni Polites, UIC
Chloe Howerth, Monmouth
Emma Hill, Monmouth