HARRISONBURG, Va. – Despite a game-high nine strikeouts from junior pitcher
Jailyn Ford, NC State used a two-run third to get past 15th-seeded James Madison, 2-0, in the winner's bracket of the NCAA Softball Championship Harrisonburg Regional on Saturday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Park.
The Wolfpack improved to 37-20 on the year and advance to Sunday's regional title game at 2 p.m. while the Dukes fell to 48-9 this season and will play Fordham at 7:35 p.m. after the Rams eliminated Binghamton, 8-0 in five innings.
NCSU's Emily Weiman moved her record to 20-15 after tossing complete-game one-hitter. She allowed just one additional walk while striking out eight JMU batters. Meredith Burroughs went 1-for-3 with a RBI while Alyssa Compton and Tyler Ross accounted for the game's entire scoring.
For JMU, Ford, who fell to 16-5, conceded just two runs (one earned) on three hits and a walk, to go with her nine strikeouts in seven innings of work. Following State's two runs, Ford and the Dukes retired the final 13 Wolfpack batters. It was Ford's first losing decision since March 8 at home against Stony Brook. The Dukes' lone hit came in the bottom of the third, a two-out single up the middle by sophomore outfielder
Tahli Moore.
In the third, NC State produced the game's only two runs on a pair of hits and a JMU error. The Wolfpack put runners on first and second following a double and walk and gained a 1-0 advantage on a throwing error on a fielder's choice, allowing Compton to score from third. Two batters later, Burroughs lined a RBI single to center, plating Ross from two bases away for a 2-0 NCSU lead.
The Dukes put their first runner in scoring position in the sixth as freshman infielder
Morgan Tolle drew a lead-off walk. Sophomore pinch runner
Caitlin Viafora moved over to second on a ground out to represent JMU's first runner in scoring position, but the Dukes couldn't produce a hit to bring her home and NC State maintained its 2-0 lead heading to the seventh.
Down to its final three outs, JMU was unable to get a runner aboard as Weiman struck out the first two batters and State recorded the final putout on a liner to second.
It was only the third time JMU has been shut out this season and the first time since a 10-0 loss to then-No. 5 on Feb. 22 in Tuscaloosa, Ala.