Dukes Go 1-1 on Day Two of Easton Bama Bash

Saturday, February 21

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

5 p.m.

James Madison University

4-3

Alabama

12-3

James Madison

Alabama

2/21/2015 9:07:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - James Madison went 1-1 on day two of the Easton Bama Bash, taking third-ranked Alabama to the limit in a 6-4 loss, before coming back to win a lightning-shortened 3-0 game over Lipscomb in the nightcap at Rhoads Stadium.

With the split, the Dukes sit at 5-3 heading into Sunday's match-up against No. 5 Michigan at 11:30 a.m. The Wolverines haven't lost this weekend and has downed host 'Bama in consecutive days.

Game 1: #3 Alabama 6, James Madison 4
Third-ranked Alabama used three straight runs over the fifth and sixth innings to rally past James Madison 6-4 in front of 2,837 spectators Saturday evening at Rhoads Stadium.

Sydney Littlejohn (4-0) earned the victory after pitching 6.2 innings, allowing four runs (three earned), eight hits and three walks while senior pitcher Heather Kiefer (1-2) took the loss in the circle after conceding two runs (one earned), three hits in 3.1 innings of relief.

JMU led at three different points of the game, including 4-3 heading to the bottom of the fifth but the Crimson Tide (12-3) used a RBI double and sacrifice fly to snag the lead for the first time in the fifth and Chandler Dare added insurance in the sixth with a solo home run.

Junior pitcher/first baseman Jailyn Ford went 1-for-3 from the plate with a first-inning, two-run home run that put the Dukes ahead 2-0. Sophomore short stop Niki Prince was the lone JMU player to have a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 from the plate. Freshman second baseman Morgan Tolle also drove in another run as she went 1-for-2 in the batter's box.

Dare led the Tide, going 3-for-3, which included her sixth-inning solo shot. Danae Hayes led all Alabama players with two RBI, as she went 1-for-3 with a RBI double and sacrifice bunt.

After Alabama had tied the game at 2-2 in the first, JMU regained the lead, 3-2, after sophomore third baseman Madyson Moran singled to center and freshman DP Jessica Mrozek came home on a fielding error by the center fielder. Alabama answered with a run of its own in the second and JMU took its final lead in the top half of the fourth when Tolle singled to center, driving in junior left fielder Hannah Hayes.

Game 2: James Madison 3, Lipscomb 0 (F/6)
Junior pitcher Jailyn Ford tossed a complete-game two hitter to lead James Madison to a 3-0 triumph against Lipscomb in a game that would be called in the top of the sixth inning due to lightning in the Tuscaloosa area.

Ford (2-1) threw 5.1 innings, giving up a single hit in both the fifth and sixth innings, walking three while striking out six Lipscomb batters. Tanner Sanders (3-4) took the loss for the Bisons, allowing three earned runs and three hits in her 5.0 innings pitched.

Junior catcher Erica Field provided all the run support Saturday night as she went 2-for-3 from the plate with a two-run home run and three total RBI. Sophomore short stop Niki Prince scored a game-best two runs despite not getting a single hit in the ballgame.

Field put the Dukes ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning when she singled up the middle to bring home Prince. Two innings later and with Prince on base, Field homered down the left field line to make it 3-0 in favor of JMU.

The Bisons (5-8) kept it interesting late in the game, putting runners in scoring position in the fifth and sixth innings. In the fifth, Lipscomb put two on with one out but the Dukes got out the inning with a foul out and ground out.

In the sixth, Lipscomb was knocking on the door of scoring as it loaded the bases with just one out after Gracey Aguirre singled, Abby Fenichel drew a walk and Kasey Gibson was hit by a pitch. However, the game went into a lightning delay and with the radar not looking good, it was decided to call the game. Since the game had completed five innings, JMU earned the win since it could be considered an official game.