Dukes Fall to Bruins, 6-1, in Game 1

Friday, May 24

Los Angeles, Calif.

9 p.m.

James Madison University

51-9

UCLA

50-6

James Madison

UCLA

5/24/2019 11:58:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – James Madison softball dropped a 6-1 decision to second-seeded UCLA in the first game of Los Angeles Super Regional on Friday night at Easton Stadium.

JMU moves to 51-9 on the season as UCLA improves to 50-6.

Junior Kate Gordon gave the Dukes an early 1-0 lead in the first inning with a solo home run over the wall in center field for her 23rd of the season.

UCLA answered in the third with a leadoff double from Kinsley Washington who scored on an error, tying the contest at 1-1 before Rachel Garcia made it a 4-1 game with a three-run homer.

The Bruins plated the last two runs in the game on two hits in the fourth for a final score of 6-1. With two outs, junior Madison Naujokas singled up the middle in the fifth for JMU's second and last hit of the contest.

Redshirt senior Megan Good (21-7) started in the circle, pitching 3 1/3 innings in which she earned four strikeouts while giving up four hits. Junior Odicci Alexander entered in relief in the fourth, throwing 2 2/3 innings in which she fanned four batters.

QUOTING COACH LAPORTE
"It was great to see Kate put us on the board early with a home run, but we faced a great pitcher tonight in Rachel Garcia and we didn't do a good job of making adjustments in later at-bats. We need to put tonight behind us, come out strong tomorrow and play JMU softball to force a third game."

FOR HISTORY'S SAKE

With her start in tonight's game, Good is tied with Taylor Newton for all-time games started with 234.
With Gordon's home run, she is the Colonial Athletic Association's single-season home run record holder (23).

UP NEXT
The Dukes and Bruins are back in action tomorrow for Game 2 of the L.A. Super Regional. First pitch is set for 8 p.m. ET and will be available on ESPN. The game is also available for online listening on MadiZONE HD SportsNet presented by the JMU Alumni Association with coverage beginning at 7:50 p.m.