Ford's Near Perfect Game Caps off JMU's Two Wins in Orlando

Saturday, March 14

Orlando, Fla.

9 a.m.

James Madison University

15-6

Monmouth

2-4

Monmouth

James Madison

Ford's Near Perfect Game Caps off JMU's Two Wins in Orlando

3/14/2015 4:00:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

ORLANDO, Fla. – Junior Jailyn Ford pitched a near perfect game to cap off another 2-0 day for the James Madison softball team as the Dukes defeated Monmouth 8-0 in six innings before claiming a 1-0 triumph over Butler on day two of the UCF Spring Fling Tournament at the UCF Softball Complex.

The Dukes improved to 16-6 and have now won seven straight heading into Sunday's clash with 20th-ranked UCF on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. That game can be seen on UCF Knights All-Access for a nominal fee and also followed along with live stats.

Game Two: James Madison 1, Butler 0
Junior pitcher Jailyn Ford tossed an absolute gem and nearly threw a perfect game as James Madison downed Butler 1-0 to complete its second straight two-win day on Saturday afternoon at the UCF Spring Fling Tournament.

Ford pitched a complete game, allowing just one base hit, which came with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning. She finished the day with a season-best 14 strikeouts, improving to 3-0 on the road trip and 6-4 for the year. She sat down eight consecutive batters on strikes between the second and fifth innings.

She was also the lone player on either team to touch home plate, scoring the game-winning run. With one out in the top half of the fourth inning, Ford hit her second triple of the season and she scored on the next at-bat when sophomore center fielder Taylor Newton hit a double to center to make it 1-0.

The Dukes had a chance to tack on one more in the inning but Butler turned a double play on a bunt attempt, tagging out sophomore pinch runner Caitlin Viafora at home.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Bulldogs (9-9) found themselves one out away from being held hitless but Kristen Boros hit a deep fly ball to right field that stayed left of the foul line for a triple. With the game-tying run only 60 feet away, Ford closed the door on Butler as she struck out Maria Leichty looking for the game's final out.

The Dukes were held to four hits in the win, but Newton accounted for half of the hits total, going 2-for-3 with one RBI, while Ford and freshman second baseman Morgan Tolle both went 1-for-3 from the batter's box.

Taking the loss for Butler was Kristin Gutierrez (5-5), who went the distance, allowing just one run and four hits while walking no JMU batters. She did however have just one strikeout.

Game One: James Madison 8, Monmouth 0 (F/6)
Junior catcher Erica Field and junior first baseman Jailyn Ford both went deep for home runs to lead James Madison to an 8-0 victory against Monmouth in six innings on Saturday morning at the UCF Spring Fling Tournament.

The Dukes had big innings in the third and sixth, where they tallied three and four runs, respectively. Freshman pitcher Megan Good improved to 7-0 in the circle after throwing a six hitter. She struck out eight batters, marking the third straight start she's reached that strikeout total.

Field hit 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs while Ford went 1-for-2 with a homer, two RBIs, two runs and a walk. Junior left fielder Hannah Hayes also had a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 with a triple and a run.

The Dukes got on the board early in the first when Good hit her first career sacrifice fly to left field, scoring sophomore pinch runner Caitlin Viafora from third to put them ahead 1-0.

They stretched the lead to 4-0 in the third off the bats of Field and Ford. Field sent the ball sailing over the left center fence for her third home run of the season, a solo shot, as she doubled her career home run total (3) from her first two seasons. Two batters later and with a runner on, Ford hit her team-best fourth homer way over the left field wall to make it a four-run contest.

In the sixth, JMU quickly loaded the bases with no outs and after a failed fielder's choice attempt by Monmouth, two runs came in to score, with the second coming across the plate following the blundered throw at second and short. Sophomore third baseman Madyson Moran hit a sac fly to center, scoring Hayes from third to make it a 7-0 game and Field put the game away when she accrued her third hit, a single through the left side, to score freshman DP Alyssa Buddle.

Amanda Riley (1-2) claimed the loss for Monmouth after allowing four runs (three earned) and six hits in just three innings. The Hawks had one hitter get on base in each at-bat as Justene Reyes had a perfect 3-for-3 morning with two singles and a double.