OCALA-- Taylor Bowen has brought a great deal to the softball program at the College of Central Florida.

Bowen, a transfer from Polk State, went 19-7 with a 1.55 ERA for CF this spring and played a huge role in helping the program to its first-ever NJCAA National Tournament appearance.

Numbers aren't the only thing that Bowen has brought to the Patriot program.

"She comes to work hard every day," said Kevin Fagan, head softball coach. "She always has a smile and has a great demeanor.

"We are real proud of her for all she has accomplished."

Bowen's biggest accomplishment to date occurred recently when she signed a letter-of-intent with Florida Southern University.

She becomes the fourth member of the CF sophomore class to sign with a four-year program this spring. In getting there this season, Bowen earned first-team all-Mid Florida Conference honors in the circle.

She averaged 5.85 strikeouts per appearance and rung up 117 in 140 innings. In all, Bowen earned 37 career victories and over 350 strikeouts at the junior college level.

In both of her years at the JuCo level, she helped her team reach the district final of their tournament at the state level.

Bowen earned a win over Eastern Florida State to start the state tournament this year for CF.

She was tough on opposing batters, but was especially tough at home where CF went 21-3 this season.

Bowen had a streak of 23 1/3 innings in conference play at home where she didn't allow an earned run.

Overall, she allowed just three earned runs from conference play on and allowed just 31 earned run during her team-high 140 innings of work.