No. 13 James Madison’s Megan Good Pitches, Hits Bomb in Win over UCF

(Photo by Victor Tan / New Day Review)

Game Recap

ORLANDO, Fla. – So far this season, the University of Central Florida has not fared well against ranked opponents. Before Wednesday’s game with No. 13 James Madison University, the Knights were 0-4 against ranked teams. That downward streak continued, as the Knights (10-7) fell 9-1 to the Dukes (17-3) at the UCF Softball Complex in front of an announced crowd of 125.

Alea White (6-5) started the game with a 2.61 ERA, but this stat was damaged in the loss where she allowed six earned runs on seven hits in 4.2 innings. Junior Megan Good (12-0) got the start and the win for James Madison, throwing 5.0 innings with one strikeout and two hits.

The fifth inning is when the Dukes cemented their lead and ended White’s day. Leading 2-0, Morgan Tolle reached first on a base hit up the middle to lead off the inning. Pinch-runner Tahli Moore eventually scored off a Taylor Newton RBI after Cambry Arnold dropped a sacrifice bunt to advance Moore to second. Then, with two runners on base, Odicci Alexander cracked the ball over the center-field wall to bolster James Madison’s lead to 6-0.

James Madison opened the scoring early with a two-run bomb over the center-field wall by Good. UCF tried to answer after Linnea Goodman doubled to right field with one out, but she was left stranded on third after Courtney Rotton and Cassady Brewer grounded out.

UCF center fielder Megan Greenwell helped the Knights keep the game within reach with a running catch at the wall to end the fourth. Luers-Gillispie praised her effort after the game.

“Absolutely great. She does that all the time in center field,” she said. “Always on the ball, seeing the ball off the bat, and then does a good job with her jumps and her reads. She did a good job also at the plate, making sure she had a nice shot up the middle.”

UCF scored its lone run in the bottom of the sixth when Tamesha Glover homered over the left-field wall.

“We have that fight. It was a tough game; James Madison is a tough team,” Luers-Gillispie said. “We knew that going into it. We knew they were going to be a hard-hitting team… I don’t think we were ready defensively this game. Offensively, they did a good job executing what their plan was against this pitcher, but I think, defensively, we weren’t where we needed to be.”

Entering Wednesday’s bout, Good’s ERA was 0.19. UCF managed only four hits on the day while JMU had 10.

Player of the Game: Megan Good

Good pitched 5.0 innings, allowing only two hits and shutting out the Knights. She also finished 2-for-3 with two runs and a game-high four RBIs.

What’s next?

The Knights will host Ohio State University on Friday at 5 p.m. to start the UCF Wilson/Demarini Tournament. UCF will then play Deleware State University at 7 p.m.

Highlights

That’s a stand-up DOUBLE for @linnngoood in B1!

📺: https://t.co/9rPGhKnt9Y#ChargeOn pic.twitter.com/l2THkPqk6x

— UCF Softball (@UCF_Softball) March 8, 2017

White notches her 3rd K of the day! @linnngoood starts off B4 for us down 2-0

📺: https://t.co/9rPGhKnt9Y#ChargeOn pic.twitter.com/Gh1vFoT16k

— UCF Softball (@UCF_Softball) March 8, 2017

Glover connects on a leadoff homer in the B6! #ChargeOn pic.twitter.com/3AiQKHHJpV

— UCF Softball (@UCF_Softball) March 8, 2017

NDR Notes

• The Knights have still not beaten a ranked team. They are 0-5 now against ranked teams.

Scoring

Statistics and Starting Lineups

Pitching

Hitting

UCF starting lineup: 1. Tamesha Glover (5) 2. Linnea Goodman (7) 3. Cassady Brewer (3) 4. Brittany Solis (6) 5. Aubrey Johnson (4) 6. Megan Greenwell (8) 7. Autumn Gillespie (2) 8. Willow Kalinen (9) 9. Kamryn Toney (DP)

UCF starting pitcher: Alea White  (6-4)

JMU starting lineup: 1. Morgan Tolle (3) 2. Cambry Arnold (7) 3. Taylor Newton (9) 4. Kate Gordon (2) 5. Odicci Alexander (DP) 6. Niki Prince (6) 7. Madyson Moran (5) 8. Madison Naujokas (4) 9. Kassie Brammer (8)

JMU starting pitcher: Megan Good (11-0)