JMU softball wins NCAA Tournament opener

James Madison freshman pitcher Megan Good capped a six-run fifth inning with an RBI double that terminated the Dukes’ 9-1 win versus Binghamton in the second game of the NCAA Softball Championship Harrisonburg Regional on Friday evening at Veterans Memorial Park.

The 15th-seeded Dukes improved to 48-8 and advanced to Saturday’s winners bracket game against NC State at 2 p.m.. The Bearcats fell to 24-20 and will face elimination versus Fordham at 4:30 p.m. The Wolfpack rallied past the Rams for a 12-5 triumph in the regional opener.

JMU poured on 14 hits, led by sophomore outfielder Taylor Newton who went 3-for-3 with three runs and a RBI. Freshman second baseman Morgan Tolle was 2-for-2 for with a run, and Good was 2-for-3 with a RBI and walk. Sophomore shortstop Niki Prince went 2-for-4 with a RBI and run and reached 100 career hits.

Good also earned the win in the circle, moving to 29-2 by giving up just one run on three hits and a walk. She also struck out five in her NCAA debut.