Hofstra Rallies to Upend JMU, 5-3; Dukes Face Elon in Elimination Game

Thursday, May 7

Harrisonburg, Va.

12 p.m.

James Madison University

45-7

Hofstra

36-11-1

Hofstra

James Madison

Hofstra Rallies to Upend JMU, 5-3; Dukes Face Elon in Elimination Game

5/7/2015 2:43:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison saw it's nation-leading, 36-game win streak come to an end Thursday afternoon after Hofstra used a three-run home run in the seventh inning to rally for a 5-3 victory in game three of the Colonial Athletic Association Softball Championship at Veterans Memorial Park.

The Pride improved to 36-11-1 and advances to Friday's championship game while the Dukes fell to 45-7 on the year. It was the first loss for JMU since March 8, spanning a day shy of two months.

JMU will play Elon at 5:30 p.m. tonight, following the Pheonix's 8-6 come-from-behind win over fourth-seeded Towson in game four of the tournament. The victor moves on to face Hofstra at noon tomorrow and must win twice to claim the tournament crown.

Bailey went 3-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs while Chloe Fitzgerald hit 3-for-4 with a run. Taylor Pirone (17-11) picked up the win in relief after conceding one run on three hits, to go with two strikeouts in three innings of work.

Two JMU hitters produced multi-hit outings, as junior catcher Erica Field was 2-for-4 while junior pitcher/infielder Jailyn Ford hit 2-for-3 with a double and RBI. Sophomore outfielder Taylor Newton was also 1-for-3 with a home run.

Freshman pitcher/infielder Megan Good was handed her first collegiate loss after she surrendered three runs, all unearned, on four hits, to go with three strikeouts in 2.2 innings of relief. The loss dropped her season record to 27-1.

Both starters did not get a decision after being pulled while the game was tied at 2-2. HU's Morgan Lashley went four innings, allowing two runs on seven hits, while Ford threw 4.1 innings and gave up two runs on three hits, to go with a game-best 10 strikeouts.

The Dukes opened the scoring in the third after producing four hits in the frame. With one out and runner in scoring position, sophomore shortstop Niki Prince singled through the right side, driving home sophomore outfielder Tahli Moore from second base to give JMU a 1-0 lead.

JMU's advantage was short-lived, however, as Bailey led off the top of the fourth with a solo home run over the center field wall to tie the ballgame at 1-1. The Dukes recaptured the lead in the bottom half as Newton crushed her ninth homer of the season well over the left-center wall to put JMU ahead 2-1.

Hofstra answered in the fifth when Megan Patierno just cleared the center field fence for her eighth home run of the year, to tie things up at 2-2. In the bottom of the sixth, Ford doubled down the left field line, to score sophomore pinch runner Caitlin Viafora all the way from first, giving the home team a 3-2 advantage.

Into the seventh and facing two outs, Hofstra began its rally on a fielding error at first base by Ford. Fitzgerald completed her three-hit day by reaching on a slap single to the pitcher and Bailey erased the deficit on the first pitch she saw, launching her CAA-best 16th home run to center.

JMU put a runner on with a single by freshman infielder Morgan Tolle in the bottom of the seventh, but the Pride retired the next three Dukes to advance to the championship game.