# 14 Dukes Split Saturday Doubleheader with USC Upstate and #17 Missouri

Saturday, February 11

Charleston, S.C.

9 a.m.

James Madison University

3-0

(RV) USC Upstate

2-1

James Madison

USC Upstate

Photo by: Caylor Arnold

# 14 Dukes Split Saturday Doubleheader with USC Upstate and #17 Missouri

2/11/2017 2:54:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 @JMU_Softball USC Upstate Box Missouri Box 2017 Schedule 2017 Statistics Photo Gallery

CHARLESTON, S.C. – No. 14/16 James Madison softball (3-1) opened Saturday's doubleheader slate at the CSU Softball Complex with a 4-0 victory over (RV) USC Upstate (2-1) but suffered its first defeat of the season falling 8-4 to No. 17/19 Missouri (2-1).

Junior Morgan Tolle led the Dukes at the plate going 3-for-7 with two RBIs and a home run over Saturday's games. Senior Madyson Moran added two hits on six plate appearances with one RBI.

In the circle, junior Megan Good (2-0) earned her second victory allowing just two hits with seven strikeouts in her second shutout to start the season. Good held the Spartans hitless over five full innings of play. Freshman Odicci Alexander (1-1) was tagged with her first loss after pitching two inning allowing five runs off five hits. Errors plagued the Dukes against Missouri as the Tigers scored five unearned runs in the loss.

After three scoreless innings against the Spartans, Tolle notched the first hit of the game with a solo home run to lead off the fourth inning. The Dukes capitalized on two Upstate errors and two hits, including an RBI triple from senior Tahli Moore to plate two runs to extend the lead to 3-0 in the top of the sixth

During the top of the seventh, the Dukes added their final run of the game as junior Jessica Mrozek¸ who led off with a walk, scored on a double from Moran.

In the rematch with the ranked Tigers, Missouri was able to get on the board first with a two-run home run from Kirsten Mack in the first inning. The Dukes answered in the second, capitalizing on Missouri errors to load the bases with one out. The Tigers were able to turn a double play but senior Taylor Newton was able to come across to score to cut the lead to 2-1.

Missouri was able to add three additional runs, including a second two-RBI home run, before the Dukes were able to answer with an RBI single from redshirt sophomore Jessica McCabe in the top of the fourth to cut Missouri's lead to 5-2. The Dukes continued to chip away with sacrifice fly from Good in the top of the fifth and a RBI groundout by McCabe in the sixth, but Missouri was able to hang on to its 8-4 advantage.

McCabe pitched the final four innings for the Dukes allowing three unearned runs off four hits.

QUOTING COACH DEAN
"I thought we hit the ball well all weekend. We faced a really good pitcher against Upstate. She does a really nice job. We were patient, and we fought through it. All weekend, we did a really nice job offensively. Megan [Good] had an exceptional weekend. Otherwise in the circle, there were ups and downs. Defensively, we played extremely well until that last game. We have balls going to backstop that gave up runs. We can't do that against a Top 25 team. We were still in a position to win the ball game and still competed because of our hitting. We never pouted or got down. We kept playing, but we've got things to work on."

GOOD'S HOT START
In her first two starts in the circle, Megan Good has been lights out. The junior has allowed no runs in 14.0 innings of work for two shutout victories. Good has struck out 17 batters while issuing just one lone walk while opponents are batting a mere .083 against her with only four hits.

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT
Seniors Niki Prince and Madyson Moran each had impressive starts to their senior campaigns. Prince closed the weekend with a .429 average with six hits, four going for extra-bases for a .857 slugging percentage to close the four-game slate. The shortstop added four RBIs while scoring five runs for the Dukes. Moran added five hits on a .385 average over JMU's opening weekend. The third baseman plated just one RBI but scored three runs while slugging two doubles.

UP NEXT
No. 14 James Madison travels to Clearwater, Fla. for the Michele Smith Pediatric Cancer Foundation Invitational over February 17-19. The Dukes open the tournament facing (RV) Oklahoma State on Friday, Feb. 17 at 1:30 p.m. before a 6:15 p.m. contest against #25/#24 USF. JMU will also face Wisconsin, Binghamton and St. Joseph's over the tournament.