#14 Dukes Sweep Oklahoma State and #20 USF in Friday Slate

Friday, February 17

Clearwater, Fla.

1:30 p.m.

James Madison University

4-1

(RV) Oklahoma State

3-3

Oklahoma State

James Madison

#14 Dukes Sweep Oklahoma State and #20 USF in Friday Slate

2/17/2017 4:14:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 @JMU_Softball Box Score 2017 Statistics 2017 Schedule OSU Box Scores USF Box Score OSU Box Score

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Standout performances from senior Madyson Moran and the freshmen class powered No. 14/16 James Madison softball (5-1) to a Friday sweep over (RV) Oklahoma State 5-2 and No. 20 South Florida 5-0 at the Eddie C. Moore Sports Complex to open the Michele Smith Pediatric Cancer Invitational.

Odicci Alexander held USF (4-3) to five hits as the freshman recorded her first career shutout to improve to 2-1. Alexander struck out six batters and issued just one walk in the 5-0 victory against the ranked Bulls. At the plate, Alexander went 2-for-4 while scoring a run.

After two scoreless innings against USF, freshman Cambry Arnold broke through with an RBI bunt single to score Moran Freshman catcher Kierstin Roadcap turned in a memorable debut performance going 2-for-3 with a two-out grand slam in the top of the fourth in just her second career at bat.

In Friday's opener against the Cowgirls (3-3), Moran led JMU with a 2-for-2 day at the plate. The third baseman scored three runs while plating two RBIs off an inside the park home run to right center field. In her first start, freshman Natalie Cutright went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Junior Megan Good saw her shutout streak come to close as the Cowgirls scored two runs off five hits and five walks. Good struck out nine of the first 18 batters she faced to improve to 3-0 in the circle. The junior dealt a total of 19.1 innings of shutout softball before allowing her first run this season.

After a scoreless first inning, Moran doubled down the left field line with out before Cutright drove her home with a single through the right side to give JMU a 1-0 lead. JMU pushed its lead to 3-0 with Moran's two-RBI inside the park home run to right center field.

The Dukes were able to plate two additional runs in the fifth inning with help of a throwing error and pass ball by OSU catcher Mackenzie Thomas.

Leading off the top of the sixth with a walk, Oklahoma State capitalized with a double to right center to cut JMU's lead to 5-1. The Cowgirls were able to plate a second run with a single to left field before a walk loaded the bases with one out. The JMU's defense made back-to-back outs including a force play at home on a grounder to third to prevent any additional damage and cap its 5-2 victory.

QUOTING COACH DEAN
"We pitched extremely well today. We battled in the circle. We put a lot of pressure on our opponents offensively. We didn't strikeout any during the first game, and only struck out four times against USF. We are always putting pressure on the pitchers to make good pitches. We are getting good swings one through nine. We just have to continue to do that. I would like to see us clean some things up on defense, but overall not a bad day."

TWEET OF THE GAME

@JMU_Softball this is why I came to Florida. Inside the park HR for @iMadysonMoran #Dukes 3 Oklahoma State 0, T4 pic.twitter.com/2ofeEyp75A
— Jeremy File (@jeremy_file) February 17, 2017

ROADCAP'S GRAND DEBUT
Kierstin Roadcap left her mark in her collegiate debut as the catcher recorded a two-out grand slam in JMU's 5-0 victory over No. 20 South Florida. It was the first grand slam of the season for JMU and the first since Jessica Mrozek knocked a grand slam against North Carolina in a 10-1 victory over the Tar Heels during the Harrisonburg Regional.

LIGHT OUTS
The JMU pitching staff has been dominate over the first six games of the season. As the staff the Dukes hold a 1.37 ERA with three shutouts. The Duke pitchers have struck out 42 batters while only issuing nine walks and have allowed only eight earned runs this season. JMU is outscoring opponents 37 to 13.

UNDER PRESSURE
In Friday's opener against the Cowgirls, JMU's offense brought the heat and force the OSU defense to make plays as no Duke struck out during the contest. The last time a JMU was not struck out at the plate was on May 20, 2016 in a 7-0 victory over Princeton during the Harrisonburg Regional.

UP NEXT
James Madison continues action at the Michele Smith Pediatric Cancer Invitational with a Saturday doubleheader slate. JMU will face Wisconsin at 1:30 p.m. before facing Binghamton at 4 p.m. Both games will be held at the Eddie C. Moore Sports Complex.